Learning To Let Go

Today blind-sided me! I knew it was coming but just never put any thought into it. This is the day in which I took my first-born daughter (Karlee) to get her drivers license!

There I was, walking up to the Tennessee Drivers License Facility with my little girl and the entire time it was like I had this movie playing flashback videos of her life over in my head. I remembered that amazing day in July when she entered the world there in the delivery room at the Hospital in Albany, GA. I could see the people standing at the altar of the Albany First Free Will Baptist Church as we stood there and dedicated this little baby to God. Flash backs of her first birthday cake, first bike ride, first day of school, first scrape on the knee, first everything.

I wondered what my parents thought the day I got my license and the first day I drove off without them in the car? I wondered how time flew by so quickly that I was now living out this crazy moment? I wondered if she was scared without me? I felt helpless. She was on her own.

I’m learning it’s easy for us as parents to say that our children are God’s – “I’ve just given them to the Lord” – but it’s an entirely different thing to live that statement out. God is stretching me. I’m learning new ways to trust in Him every day. Being a parent is one of the most amazing things in life– it’s a gift – and children truly are a blessing. Still, letting them go is so hard to do.

Thank you Karlee for being such a gift. For bringing us so much joy and love. You truly are a blessing and your love and faith in Christ is a beautiful thing! Now, please just be careful!!!