2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attainingto all the wealth [a]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in atrue knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself Colossians 2:2
In just a few weeks families will be saying good-bye to their college bound children. Tears will be shed as a flood of memories come back at once. We are doing that today as our son heads back early for leadership training.
My wife grew up in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in a family of 5. Families in this little town of Warren knew that one day the child they raised would be moving away for college in the big city. Simply, there were no opportunities for young people once they graduated. Over the years I have witnessed, as a son-in-law, many tears as I watched my mother-in-law say good-bye to each of her grown children at holiday conclusions. In other households in this tiny town this ritual is repeated.
It seems that as parents we discover how fleeting time really is as we watch our child grow up. Once a child begins 1st grade then it really is only 12 years before they graduate. For us as grown-ups 12 years goes by in a flash of lightning. No one knows this better than our military men and woman who go overseas for a period of time leaving behind their family. It is only when they return that they discovered the missed milestones of their children. Milestones that can never be replaced.
So it is for all of us. The best thing any of us can hope for is to make the most of the opportunities we do have with our families.
One of our families favorite programs growing up was the Walton's. It was our Sunday evening ritual. For those who do know, the Walton's was about a depression era family and their struggles through hard times. It was a show that gave us hope that faith and family would help us get through those difficult times.
If you are one of the families saying good-bye to your son or daughter go ahead and get that box of tissues out and shed some tears. This is the moment you had been waiting for. Those 12 years of constantly sending them off to school has come to fruition. Your job has been completed. Mission accomplished. Like my mother-in-law remember that each holiday conclusion you will be reaching up for that box of tissues and doing it all over again!
It seems that as parents we discover how fleeting time really is as we watch our child grow up. Once a child begins 1st grade then it really is only 12 years before they graduate. For us as grown-ups 12 years goes by in a flash of lightning. No one knows this better than our military men and woman who go overseas for a period of time leaving behind their family. It is only when they return that they discovered the missed milestones of their children. Milestones that can never be replaced.
So it is for all of us. The best thing any of us can hope for is to make the most of the opportunities we do have with our families.
One of our families favorite programs growing up was the Walton's. It was our Sunday evening ritual. For those who do know, the Walton's was about a depression era family and their struggles through hard times. It was a show that gave us hope that faith and family would help us get through those difficult times.
If you are one of the families saying good-bye to your son or daughter go ahead and get that box of tissues out and shed some tears. This is the moment you had been waiting for. Those 12 years of constantly sending them off to school has come to fruition. Your job has been completed. Mission accomplished. Like my mother-in-law remember that each holiday conclusion you will be reaching up for that box of tissues and doing it all over again!
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