Letting Go Means Letting Grow

During this season of graduation, it brings to mind the thoughts of new beginnings for our children. And with that comes the realities of milestones that require us to let them move onto the next phase in their lives. As moms, our maternal instincts mean that we generally want to guide them and protect them, and often times be with them ever step of their young lives. 

With raising our kids and watching them grow also comes the inescapable reality that with each milestone, we also must let them grow. We must encourage them to do so, in fact!

During the early years, our primary role is to teach them and plant seeds of instruction and wisdom. As Christian mothers, we must heed God's command to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) we honor God. This means teaching them about God, and his son, our Savior Jesus Christ. We must introduce them to the Bible, and to Sunday School, and teach them right from wrong. And we must protect them, correct them, and direct them when they go astray (with love).

We must also teach them - how to pray - pray with them, and pray over them. Thus says the word - "praying over their lives continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) .

Prayer connects our hearts for our adult children to the divine plan of God. Praying over them releases our anxieties into his capable hands, and establishes our confidence that God will provide.

As we let them go

But with each new milestone - we enter a new phase in our children's lives! One of the hardest things you will ever have to do is "let your children go." Emotionally, letting go seems harder for us mommas.

As the old saying goes, “Everything new becomes old,” and the “letting go” process is firmly in place. Remember the first day of school?  Perhaps your little one clung to your leg as you dropped him or her off for their first day of pre-school or kindergarten! Do you recall the memories of waving as you turned away to leave? Perhaps there were tears (ours - HA!). And then, by the end of the week, they were racing out of the car to play with their friends?

Trust me, you will experience many emotional firsts with your kids. It comes with the territory! But, this is an absolute necessity for them to mature into young adulthood - and ultimately into full adulthood. Our job is never really "done, per say." As hard as we try to keep them little, the humans put in our care will grow up and make their own choices in life.

And as they do, our roles shift towards that of encourager and supporter, rather than of provider. They increasingly develop their own ideas and make their own decisions.

After we’ve let them go

Letting go also means our relationship with them changes. Our job description changes. We’ve gone from loving and teaching to letting go and trusting God for it. There’s no more letting go. It is now let live and accept.

This is when you have to be content to give them to God and, through your prayers, speak words of life into them.

Growing an adult is a tough job. There’s no doubt about it! Letting them go into the world is also tough. But, you can do it!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Trust God. He will always walk right beside you.