The Trip Day 6

We said our "until later thens...." and hugged Rose as hard as we wanted to cry.

I keep hearing that she will be fine.  I understand she will be fine.

But it's going to take me awhile.  

At the airport...without our Rose.

Rose is our little blue bird of happiness.  

When you have a baby, you are suddenly aware

of muscles that you did not realize existed,

but now

need to use.

When you watch a mama bird nudge her baby to the edge of the nest,

she is using some new muscles,

more emotional and intellectual than physical.

It's painful to nudge her.

But if I build her a glider or tie her up with ropes and try to "fly her" 

she will never grow into the lady that God wants her to be.

She will be weak and helpless

and 

dependent on me.

I'm thinking God's plan for her life

will not

include tucking her beak into our nest

and

shutting out the world

("Quench not the Spirit")

She needs

to learn to fly

("Pray without ceasing.")

dependent on God.

only.

When we left Rose, we told her not to look back but to look forward.

And as we reluctantly climbed into the rental car and watched her stride away......you know what?  She was already texting.  Her friends were waiting for her up at the Student Center.  They had plans.

"Rejoice evermore."

When Rose was a baby, we dedicated her to the Lord.  

Thank you Dear Father

for letting us have this delightful child,

that we prayed for

and loved:

Here she is...

we give Autumn Rose back to You

just as we promised.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I Thessalonians 5:16-19