A Mother taking care of her Young.

This morning as I woke up and made my cup of coffee, I went to look out my front door. For the second time this spring, a mother bird has made a nest in my door wreath. There are three little birds with mouths wide open waiting for mommie bird to bring them their breakfast. What a precious sight to behold. It seems like yesterday I was doing the same for my three precious little daughters. I would usually wake up first and spend some time alone mediating and praying and reading, then slowly but surely one by one a child would come into the den and find a place to snuggle next to me. Most of the time it was my middle child, Lauren. Other times it would be my youngest, Catherine. My oldest, Lindsey, well she tended to linger in bed the longest (and still does). But as I recall those wonderful days some 20 years ago, I can still feel the joy of providing for my children. Making their breakfast, listening to their young conversations, having them ask me a million and one questions about any and everything. 

Those days are far behind me now. My children are grown now. They don't need me like they did back then to provide for their every need (however, sometimes they would love that). My oldest is moved back home after college to find a job and get herself settled into the real world. She's eager to live on her own and make enough money to provide for herself. It's a tough world for college graduates. Lindsey is not alone in having to move back in with parents until they can financially provide for themselves. Lauren, my middle daughter, recently married her best friend and they are living on love and realizing how difficult it is to live on pennies a day. My youngest, Catherine, doesn't live at home. I'm not sure where she is. But she does stay in touch with me and her daddy once a day. She has taken my mother's heart and stretched it to a place I never knew it could go. 

As the mother bird prepares her baby birds to leave the nest, she may not know where they will go. They may stay close and come back to my front door to build a nest for her children or they may go somewhere else. Siblings are independent of each other and they will choose their own course of life. What I have learned is that you have to let them go. You have to allow them to make their own choices and decisions no matter the consequences. It has been hard for me to stand back and watch. As I try to give them guidance, direction and loving advice, sometimes all you can do for your children is pray. Yes, pray!

That has been my source of strength as I have raised my children. Before they were born I gave them to the Lord. I raised them the best I could with what I had at that moment to give them. I wasn't always perfect and I made many mistakes, but knowing that they were the Lord's first and foremost gave me the peace that they will have a bright future ahead of them. 

Granted all three of my daughters are as different as night and day but that's what I love about them. They are their own person. Beautiful in every way and I'm so proud to call them mine.

"Lord, I pray that my daughters will live a life worthy of you and please you in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of all that you are, and being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might. (Colossians 1:10-11) All the days ordained for them were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16) Use them for your eternal purposes. No plan of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2) Because you hold all things together (Colossians 1:17), I ask that you hold them when their world seems to be falling apart. Continue to help them discover your plans and purposes for their life and love you for them. I pray that you will prosper them not only in this world but especially in the world to come."

(Excerpts of this prayer are from Prayer for Prodigals by James Banks)