Last Day of Summer
Today is the last day of our summer. Not only is this the last day of summer, but it is also the last day of all the summers I will spend with my children before one of them becomes an adult. Before next year, one of them will graduate high school, turn 18, and begin his journey on his way to adult life and responsibilities. As we all take these next steps on our journey I realize that I have always wanted to be as important to my children as they are to me. I’ve even wanted to be the most important person to them…like I was when they were very small.
As I see the days of my “importance” winding to a close I have been stymied by fear and regret…wanting time to stand still so I can keep the days on the calendar from changing. I want to squeeze out just as much as I can out of these last few days before the busy days of band camp, volleyball practice, marching season, and school overtake us. I know that when those days begin I will see the kids walking their own path more and more and that path inevitably leads away from this home and this heart.
I’ve always been a person who likes to make plans….I like knowing what’s ahead and what to expect. And I’ve always known that these days would happen but they seemed so far in the future that I didn’t really worry about them until now.
In Acts 9 Paul is also on a journey. Like me he thought he knew his purpose and his goals. But when God shed a little light on the subject, Saul realized he was blind. Saul’s immediate response was to fast. It says in verse 8 that he didn’t eat or drink anything for 3 days. Saul’s response was the correct one. He thought he was doing the right thing as he persecuted the Christians….He even had letters from the High Priest at Jerusalem to prove it to whomever might ask. But when he had an encounter with God Saul knew immediately that he had not been following God, but rather his own hatred and narrow minded beliefs.
God didn’t shine a bright light all around me, or cause me to be totally blind so that He could make me see. But I have realized that my life with my children is not over. My desire to be the most important person in their lives was misguided and selfish. My real purpose in being their mom is to point them to Jesus…not toward perfect grades, a good college, or the right mate. My purpose is to point them to Jesus and even though I never did it perfectly, I have tried to do just that.
My relationship with my children will change, but if we are following God, then I know that we are all on the right path.
© [Janet Sikes Anderson] and [Kitchen Sink Thoughts], [2009]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Janet Sikes Anderson] and [Kitchen Sink Thoughts] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
