The other day I received a text message from my daughter that read, "Mom, can I get a second hole pierced in each ear?"
I replied back, "No, one hole is enough."
Then she texted, "Mom, I'm almost 15, please?"
To which I frantically replied, "15? 15? When did you get to be almost 15? Stop, stop right now. No more growing up. Oh and by the way no more holes either."
Seriously, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a year after you celebrate turning 14, you will in fact turn 15. But somehow when I saw her text message stating what age she is quickly approaching, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I remember being 15. It seems like yesterday. Well, maybe a few yesterdays ago. But still, I don't feel that far removed from my brace faced, moon walking, Izod wearing, back pack carrying days y'all. How can my baby be turning 15?
My mind starts racing. In a few days she'll start high school. In four years she'll be heading to college. How can this be?
I promise it was just yesterday that I was tying matching bows on her pig tailed hair and asking if she remembered to pack her sippie cup and cheese stick for snack time at Kindergarten. Then I'd watch her little curly-headed self, grab her Polly Pockets back pack and bounce up the front steps of her elementary school.
Time. It does have a habit of slipping away from us.
And those moments we thought we'd have forever, do eventually run out. They are precious. But they are not endless.
Have I taught her enough? Is she ready for this big step? Can she handle the peer pressures that will come her way? Is her faith where it should be? Why does she want a second hole in her ear? And do I even know why I said no to her request for said second hole?
Oh the questions. They do come at times like this.
So, I quietly slipped out of bed this morning and asked Jesus if we could have a little chat about it all. After cruising through a few verses in John, I found myself staring at the most perfect verse for today in 2 Timothy 1:12 which says, "... I know whom I believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."
So, Lord, I entrust this precious little lady into your hands. Please keep her safe. And I know since you are God you know everything but as her Mom, I feel compelled to say just a few more things...
Lord, please remember she appears so tough on the outside, but inside she is quite tender.
And she really shouldn't eat sugar in the mornings as it will make her cranky by noon.
Oh yes, and she wants this second hole in each of her ears and I told her no. I'm not completely sure why my answer is no but it was and it is and well, you get the picture Lord.
And you see, I think this is hard because that precious bundle you placed in my sweaty, tired from all that labor, arms almost 15 years ago... yeah I still see her like that sometimes.
All this letting go can be a little complicated.
So, basically, what this mama's heart wants to say is thank you Lord... for the gift this girl has been to me and for Your assurance that you'll hold my baby when I'm not there to do so.
I replied back, "No, one hole is enough."
Then she texted, "Mom, I'm almost 15, please?"
To which I frantically replied, "15? 15? When did you get to be almost 15? Stop, stop right now. No more growing up. Oh and by the way no more holes either."
Seriously, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a year after you celebrate turning 14, you will in fact turn 15. But somehow when I saw her text message stating what age she is quickly approaching, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I remember being 15. It seems like yesterday. Well, maybe a few yesterdays ago. But still, I don't feel that far removed from my brace faced, moon walking, Izod wearing, back pack carrying days y'all. How can my baby be turning 15?
My mind starts racing. In a few days she'll start high school. In four years she'll be heading to college. How can this be?
I promise it was just yesterday that I was tying matching bows on her pig tailed hair and asking if she remembered to pack her sippie cup and cheese stick for snack time at Kindergarten. Then I'd watch her little curly-headed self, grab her Polly Pockets back pack and bounce up the front steps of her elementary school.
Time. It does have a habit of slipping away from us.
And those moments we thought we'd have forever, do eventually run out. They are precious. But they are not endless.
Have I taught her enough? Is she ready for this big step? Can she handle the peer pressures that will come her way? Is her faith where it should be? Why does she want a second hole in her ear? And do I even know why I said no to her request for said second hole?
Oh the questions. They do come at times like this.
So, I quietly slipped out of bed this morning and asked Jesus if we could have a little chat about it all. After cruising through a few verses in John, I found myself staring at the most perfect verse for today in 2 Timothy 1:12 which says, "... I know whom I believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."
So, Lord, I entrust this precious little lady into your hands. Please keep her safe. And I know since you are God you know everything but as her Mom, I feel compelled to say just a few more things...
Lord, please remember she appears so tough on the outside, but inside she is quite tender.
And she really shouldn't eat sugar in the mornings as it will make her cranky by noon.
Oh yes, and she wants this second hole in each of her ears and I told her no. I'm not completely sure why my answer is no but it was and it is and well, you get the picture Lord.
And you see, I think this is hard because that precious bundle you placed in my sweaty, tired from all that labor, arms almost 15 years ago... yeah I still see her like that sometimes.
All this letting go can be a little complicated.
So, basically, what this mama's heart wants to say is thank you Lord... for the gift this girl has been to me and for Your assurance that you'll hold my baby when I'm not there to do so.
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