Change we all hate it. We see it coming and we still dig our heels in. We all have a hard time with change. Whether we are ready or not change happens and is coming. One season of change that is hard to face always happens during the month of May, Graduation season,

Graduation season always moves the time clock up for our children. Promotions to the next grade level, graduating kindergarten, 8th grade, high school and even college and on to empty nesters. All of these changes in our lives as parents really hit hard. Sometimes we are ready and sometimes we are not.

I find myself in the empty nester stage. This season for me watches as one daughter is married, wife, teacher and coach and the other daughter graduated with her masters, living in Arkansas and looking for her God appointed job. People have asked me all through my daughters’ college careers and after “are you sad they are gone”, “sad they are not at home anymore”, My answer is yes and no: Yes because I love having them around and living life with them and No because they are where God wants them to be. They are living out His life plan for them and I love seeing God work in them by opening and closing doors, providing for them and teaching them to rely on Him.

This season of change in our lives as parents is not easy. If we cling too hard to them and interfere every time and try to fix it God can’t teach them what He needs for them to learn. All through my life with my girls I was the fixer. You’re mad so I am too, I need to jump in and take over, you got it. But by doing this my girls have missed out on what God was teaching them. We need to learn to back off. God has this under control and we need to trust Him. Being on the sideline is hard as a parent. God has told me many times “ back off I got this.” This is not easy as a parent I know but we have to learn to let God guide them and us.

God has given me a ministry at the high school where I teach. He has given me more “children” to love and support, encourage, cheer for and guide. These children graduate and move on to their God given plan and it still brings me to tears as it did my own daughters. Even in the empty nest time of your life God gives you a purpose.

So you mommas and daddies who are starting your parenting journey to those graduating your last child at home. You got this. Let God guide and direct you and teach you when to help and when to back off. Don’t interfere. He has got this.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Pray this verse over your children.