I can remember when I was told that having children would change my life. I casually responded, “yeah I’m sure it will.” I had no idea the difference it would make in my life and how It would truly change me forever. From the first time I saw those big brown eyes, she had me wrapped around her finger. Now fast forward eighteen years, and she is getting ready to launch out into her new life of independence. Looking back over the last eighteen years, there are so many wonderful memories that I will cherish and all I can say, as you hear most parents say, “where did the time go?” One of the hardest things I think I have had to do is return to the mission field and leave my first born behind. Although we wish we could go back and relive so many of those moments that we had together, we are excited for this new stage in her life, and are comforted knowing that she will be preparing to serve the Lord. Grace will be attending the Our Generation Training Center at our home church, and is seeking the Lord’s will for her life about where she will be a missionary. Over the years, as I have thought about this moment, I often thought about Jochebed, Moses’ mother, as she prepared the little boat and sent him down the river. In a similar way we are sending our daughter down the river, entrusting her into the hands of the Lord. There are several lessons that I have taken from that story that helps me now during this transition.
I. Preparation
When Moses was born, his mother hid him for three months, as long as she could, until the time came that she had to let him go. In the same way, the Lord has given us a certain amount of time with our children and it is our responsibility, during that time, to prepare them as much as possible for life. We must guide them into a personal relationship with the Lord and teach them to live according to His word. When that time comes to an end, then hopefully we can say that we have done all that we can to prepare them for that moment. We will always wish that we had a little more time with them and feel like we could have done better; but the time comes when that preparation is put to the test and we trust that they will excel.
II. Protection
When Moses’ mother realized that she could no longer hide her son, she did what seemed unthinkable to most parents. She prepared a little reed boat, covered it with pitch, put him in it, and sent him down the river. Most parents have a really hard time letting go of their children, but what we don’t realize is that they are much safer in the Lord’s hands than they are in ours. When they are small, we watch over them like hawks to make sure that no harm comes to them, but in reality there are so many dangers out there that we could never really protect them from everything. There is sickness, disease, accidents, bad people, not to mention the spiritual dangers in the world. If we really think about it, the Lord can do a much better job than we can because He is sovereign and all powerful. So, we can be comforted as they set sail in life knowing that the Lord will always be there to watch over them.
III. Provision
One of the neatest things about this story of Moses is that when his mother truly let him go, and entrusted him to the Lord, He prepared a much better way than even if she would have continued to try and hide him. Just a little ways away, Pharaoh’s daughter was by the river and heard the baby crying and had him brought him to her. She took him in and in turn called Moses’ very mother to come and take care of him. Isn’t is amazing how God worked it out and Moses not only was protected but ended up being raise by his mother in Pharaoh’s house and became a great man? In the same way, we can trust in the Lord’s provision for our little ones, and that He has a much better plan for them to do great things with their lives.
So, while it has been one of the most difficult things I have had to do in my life, and I miss her everyday, I have a peace that she is in the Lord’s hands and much safer than I could ever keep her. If you still have smaller children, take advantage of every moment you have with them to instill in them the things of God. If you are in the same place as us, take comfort and don’t try and hold on so tightly that you damage both them and you. If you have already been through this, be patient with us and encourage us with how it will get better.