Their Turn, And My Turn

I've been a mom for almost 36 years (thank you, Danica!) Following my firstborn were eight more wonderful children. Seven beautiful daughters and two strong sons.

It was a season of springtime in that garden, in a sense. Sowing and tending, pruning and nurturing all in anticipation of a harvest of good fruit.

Now the harvest has come and is coming, far exceeding my greatest expectations. And still I'm anticipating more and more fruit. It is wonder beyond measure. Such wonder.

And so the season is changed; it is transition time in my world. The time of littles has passed; the pitter patter of running feet, the tugging of the hem, the chubby cheeks with tears or dimples, and the little hands in mine. They've grown tall - they've become adults. And their lives have taken on a shape of their own apart from mine, as they should.

As they should.
And I'm learning that it's their turn now.

Those are the words that almost daily have become more and more illumined. It's their turn now. They must begin to plow their own fields, to discover God and His Holy ways for themselves, to nurture other littles and build culture within their own homes, to find His plan and purpose for themselves day by day, to lead others and serve in big ways (which are invariably small ways in our eyes), and to tend their own gardens.

It's their turn now.

Building traditions, making homes, establishing ministries, teaching and imparting and knowing God. It's theirs to do. My God, their God, has a garden for them.

"Stand back. Let go. Pray and be available, but get out of the way, Mom." These are the words I speak to myself routinely, by way of reminder. Because habits take time to go. Habits change with effort and intention.

And revelation is coming that it's their turn now, too.

It's their turn now, too.

My turn at that is over and now it's time, it's my turn, too, to discover a new garden, a new kind of sowing and tending, pruning and nurturing. All in anticipation of a harvest of good fruit yet to come.

I may have many more years than I once had, but it is planting season once again.

He holds all of my seasons. Now to discover springtime once again.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40.31