Getting older...

I thought I was somewhat prepared for my son(s) to start getting older and becoming more independant. I thought I would be happy and excited for them. I pray for their safety, health, their growth & maturity in obeying God & serving Him and even for their future spouses (D.V.). With my youngest saying " Do it myself" with getting dressed and going to the bathroom (even when he can't do it properly) I haven't really worried since the older 3 have done all that when they were 2 1/2 (nothing really new).

I was however a little scared & overwhelmed when my 7 1/2 year old came home from a friend's house after church (this friend being 8 1/2 and another friend who is 10 both from church) and told me all the exciting things they had done together. He said to me that they had so much fun biking in a field (without wearing helmets), playing in a fort high up that was kind of rickety, using a Tarzan rope over water, building a fire pit (but didn't start a fire cause they didn't have matches...and did know it wasn't a good idea without parents around) so instead they took a jack knife and cut some rope for some other project. Then my son got separated from his buddies riding back to his friend's house and had to find his way alone. He also got to have a piece of pie with 3 scoops of ice cream (he'd never get to have that at home BEFORE lunch). He had mixed feelings about a few moments but overall had a GREAT time. It was then that I realised that my oldest son is no longer a little boy and that even though I wasn't there God was, and was watching over him without me there. My 'little boy' was off with buddies having a great time just being boys. When I said to him I wasn't sure I was ready for him to be doing those things with his friends and that his story made me a little nervous he answered- Moms always worry! I answered, if I had never worried about you all kinds of things would (could) have happened to you till this point. I said- it's my job to 'worry' about you. My husband was thrilled with the story...I am still a little shaken. :-) It's also my 'job' to pray for him and begin to trust him and that he can also grow in trusting the Lord and that he is not really mine but the Lord's. What it must have been for Hannah in the Bible to "release" Samuel back to the Lord and his service at such a young age. My son is growing up and I need to begin to slowly trust that what he has been taught so far he will remember & use wisely. It is a journey with him to adulthood with much more ahead. It was a real reminder that "Every moment REALLY counts".