Empty nest. Twenty-three years later and I have an empty nest. The saying that the days are long, but the years are short, really is true. I absolutely love having adult children. I love that date night can be any night I want. I love that there are days that I do not have to set an alarm. I love that I can eat what I want for dinner…every single night. Truth be told though, some days the silence is deafening.
I have had plenty of time to reflect on my years as a parent and let me tell you, parenting is not for wimps! I am here to cheer you on in this journey. There are good days, bad days and everything in-between days. There will be days that the kids are sick, you are tired and everyone is short on patience. There will be days when the breakfast that they loved last week will not be touched. There will be sleepless nights and napless days. There will be so many sports games and marching band events scheduled. There will be dance classes and piano lessons that conflict with your calendar. There will be messes made and a lot of dirty laundry. There will be teenagers and attitudes. There will be eye rolls and slammed doors.
There will also be snuggles and sweet kisses. There will be fun days at the park and playdates with friends. There will be unplanned dance parties and games of hide-and-go-seek. There will be made-up jokes and a lot of belly laughs. There will be cookie making and cookie eating. There will be fun school plays and holiday band concerts. There will be family movie nights and cuddles on the couch. There will be Sundays at church. There will be bedtime stories and bedtime prayers. There will be homecomings and proms. There will be lunch dates and coffee dates. There will be engagements and weddings. There will be so much that fills your heart with joy.
On the good days and on the bad days, remember that God has handpicked you for this job. He has equipped you as the faith builder and parent and is with you every step of the way. Also remember to do your part to prepare yourself for this journey. Spend time with God daily. Spend time with God’s people. Spend time in God’s house. Don’t let the struggles keep you from church. Take care of yourself while you are on this journey. The best part of this journey is you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Resources
As the faith builders in your home you can find a complete Bible story worship experience with your child by going to ministrygrid.lifeway.com and create or log in to your free account. Then follow this link for this week’s lesson: People Praise Jesus.
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