We attended a lovely wedding tonight, and once again we witnessed parents sending their kids off and letting them go. Children are a gift from the Lord,and parents who have been good stewards of their children have equipped them to leave.
I remember years ago when my son was off at grad school, someone asked me, “Aren’t you so sad to have your son gone?” And of course I missed him. But I told her that there was one thing worse than a son who leaves, and that is a son who doesn’t. The whole purpose of bringing up children is to send them off, not to keep them home.
When our children are wise, they are a great joy to their parents, especially when they start households of their own.
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Amen! I know lots of homeschooling moms who are positively torn up when their children leave home, even for short trips not to mention college, jobs, and marriage. I miss my married daughter, but from the day she was born my husband and I tried never to lose sight of the fact that we were raising her to leave. The same goes for our other child. It’s the way it’s supposed to be, and parents will be better off if they remember that all along. It’s God’s design.
If this was on Facebook, I’d “Like” it a dozen times.
I’ve had the blessing of experiencing faithful parents who respected my husband and me as a separate family. The result is that we’ve lived in the same town with my family since we got married and have been wonderful friends with them.
What sweet sentiments.
Nancy,
This post reminds me of the “Idols” conference in Coeur d’Alene where you spoke to the women about how sometimes we make idols of our husbands or children. It was painful, but enlightening, to realize I had done this, especially with my children. We homeschooled for many years and I think that is a common pitfall for a homeschooling mom. Among other unhappy results, this makes it very hard to have a right attitude about children leaving home.
I love the simplicity of your comment: “The one thing worse than a son who leaves is a son who doesn’t.”
We met a man who said you should teach a child everything you want him to know by the time he is twelve. Now that is another essay, which I would love to see you address. Maybe you already have?
And speaking of sons and grandsons. What are some ways we can show them respect and encourage them in respectful behavior? There have been such good discussions on our daughters here lately. I need some help with the son/grandsons as well. God bless your labor of love among us.