Going Places

My family is traveling far this summer, both in miles, and in life.

The younger two of my four children are going away for the week on a World Changers mission trip. They are only traveling about 150 miles from home, but they will be traveling far this week on the road to adulthood. It amazes me that kids, who will not willingly clean their rooms, will happily spend a week in the hot sun, either painting or roofing, for people in need. It is this willingness to serve others that helps give me hope as a mom when faced with the sometimes stunning self-centeredness of teenagers.

My oldest daughter, and the extra child we are privileged to have live with us, have both graduated high school this month. They too are going places this summer. Right down the road to an apartment with four other girls, and one dog. They all have jobs, and most of them are going to school in the fall. They can’t wait to get out of their parents’ homes and live, the six of them, in 1350 square feet with two full bathrooms, “on their own”. Their parents are still covering health, auto, phone, and school expenses. They are covering their rent, gas, and personal expenses (including the dog’s vet bill). It is actually an ideal situation for all concerned. Real freedom and responsibility for the girls', and the safety net parents of daughters crave as we let our children go. They will travel far on the road to maturity as they face the challenges of living with people who do not have to love them no matter what.

I think the ones taking the longest trip this summer are my husband and me. We are going to the mountains to celebrate our 25^th anniversary. As the miles roll by we will be traveling back in time. Twenty-five years is a long time to be a couple. When we were younger, we knew we wanted a family, that my husband wanted a career, and I wanted to be at home. The family we wanted is almost grown; the kids are now going places, literally and metaphorically, without us. My husband is looking forward to the end of his career. As much as I have loved raising our family, I want to spread my wings a little also. As a couple, we are in an enviable place in life. We have the maturity and freedom our children are reaching for and like them, as the Lord allows; we still have a lifetime of going places ahead of us.

                                            Grow old along with me!
                                            The best is yet to be,
                                            The last of life, for which the first was made:
                                            Our times are in His hand
                                            Who saith "A whole I planned,
                                            Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!"

                                            excerpted from Rabbi Ben Ezra by Robert Browning

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