Long Distance Parenting Stinks!

One minute they are a baby cuddled in your arms looking up at you adoringly.  Then, before you can even turn around you are attending their high school graduation.  Now the little baby that made you a mother is living 2 1/2 hours away and bruskly reminding you often that although they need your money, they can run their lives without your input quite nicely... so stop it with the unasked for advice already.

Recently, I have been through such an experience.  My daughter transitioned to her new role quite nicely.  Me?  Not so much.  For the past two months, I've been worrying, praying, snooping, facebook stalking, relentlessly questioning, nagging and anything else I can think of to be in the know about every single detail of my child's life without seeing her every day.  Let me tell you, it was exhausting!

Thankfully, my best friend of 33+ years put it in perspective for me.  She laughed at me!  She also reminded me of our freshman year in college!  Which then got me to thinking about God's grace and mercy.  Although, I lived at home during college and commuted, I too thought my parent's rule over me was over and I could run my own life and didn't have to tell them every single detail.  I did mess up some decisions.  I made mistakes.  I tried new things.  I dated a few boys until I found the one for me.  All things my girl is going through now.  My friend is right...it's genetic!

But here is where I was failing at trusting the Lord.  He loves my child more than I do.  He is watching over her.  He cares for her.  He will lead her.  He will convict her when needed.  All my worrying was for naught.  Whatever His permissive will allows in her life is for her good to train her.  If she makes a mistake from a poor decision, she will be learning a lesson that He needs her to know.  As humans, I believe we learn more from our mistakes because they humble us before Him.  He may have adventures planned for her that He would never have for me because I'm a big, old scaredy cat but my daughter has a zest for life in that she craves new experiences.

I had the breakthrough though in what the Lord was trying to teach me.  Surrender my child to His care!  And since doing so, there has been peace in my soul.  I still pray for her daily, not with tears and anguish as before,  but now with a quiet confidence.  And the blessing is, I'm no longer exhausted with my fruitless efforts but now have a rested spirit that is waiting on the Lord for my next assignment in serving His kingdom.