This time of year is, perhaps, the very best reason for hugging your babies close, mamas.  Give them everything you have and do not hold back.  My three grown babies are all leaving this week.  Alice is already gone.  It is a victory.  For her, for me.  A victory for our family and a victory in a fallen world. Scout and Polly leave on Thursday.

Sending your children out into the world is much like bringing them into the world.  It is painful.  It is beautiful. It is a poignant reminder that we are not in control. We do our best when we remember that they are not ours.

THEY ARE NOT OURS.  Our children are a gift that we are given for a time here on earth.  We are their earthly caregivers.  We nurture them, teach them about their Creator; to know, to love and to serve Him.  To be HIS.  Not ours.  As earth shattering as this may be…it allows us greater opportunity to do the best we can.  It allows God to work with us, through us.  We become greater conduits of His love.

Practice small acts of self control, for it is the basis of all acts of love.
  
You will never have enough, (patience, time, energy) but give whatever you have and trust that grace will fill in all the little gaps.  There is much grace in our suffering.  Learn how to suffer well.  You will not be perfect. 

It is not yet our time to be perfect.

On the days of tears and tantrums, in the sleepless years and perpetual mess years (and oh!  there are so many!) it is so difficult to think that in a blink, a dot, a dash…it is gone.  And the three oldest children are all out on their own. 

I will miss you all so much.  Practice all your forgiveness on me now, my daughters.   And one day you will know and it will all make sense.  Do you remember the scene at the end of Charlotte’s web?  All the little spiders are floating on the wind, and waving their goodbyes?

I am Wilbur.