Letting Loose of My Grip

After three long weeks of being away, I get to go pick up my oldest daughter tomorrow from the bus depot. If you don’t read my personal blog, my oldest daughter left on July 3 for what to her was her greatest adventure so far, and what was for me a huge letting go. A major tearing away of any sense of control and mommying, and a total trusting of God. Who’d of thought her little experience with youth training and missions opportunities would be such a growing experience for me, the Mom.

With all the moments of placing her back into God’s hands that I had to go through in my heart to get her to this youth training, I started to think of all the times in her young life that I’ve already placed her into His Hands. The first day in the church nursery, the first time with a babysitter, the first day of preschool, the first day of kindergarten, the first day of school, the first swim lesson, the first day of camp, the first road trip with the basketball team, the first youth conference and lately the first time she took the car on her own. And that’s just to name a few. And how faithful He has been each time.

With each letting go, I myself, had to give up that essence of being right there for her every minute, of being the one to always fix things if something goes wrong, of being the one, for lack of a better word, to control and direct her day. I was brought face to face each time with placing her into God’s hands. Not that I didn’t do that everyday. But now on each of these occasions it was serious business because I wouldn’t be there to grab the responsibility back. I would totally have to lay that tug of war with God down , and seriously trust Him with her and leave it with Him. The key phrase being “Leave it”.

In the last three weeks, I have made good use of the scripture in I Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you” NIV

And as I have been obedient to do that, and put her through prayer into my Father’s hands, He reminded me that He is also Her Father, and that in Isaiah 49:15 - 16 He tells me:

“…I will never forget you. See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…”

In the Amplified Bible it says He has indelibly printed (tattooed) a picture of us on each of His Hands. That brings great comfort to this mother’s heart. Think of it. Hands are a sign of security. Who hasn’t seen the commercial for the insurance agency with the tag line “The Good Hands People”. They are selling security. And out of all the body parts, your hands are what your eyes fall upon the most. No matter what you are doing it is probably with your hands and there your eyes are. Not only are my children in God’s hands but they are before His eyes continuously. No matter what. No matter where they go. They may be out of my hands and out of my eyesight, but they are never out of God’s.

I can trust my Father God with my child. He loves her more than I do. And she is first of all His child. He has a plan for her. I may not know it. She may not know it. But He knows it. And in His hand is the best place for her to be.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11