Diapers and Diplomas

Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your majesty to their children. Psalm 90:16

This morning I was standing in my kitchen looking at the calendar for September.  As I looked over the schedule of events as usual I found the date that marked the first day of Fall. For twenty-nine years September has meant for me “back to school” and a new and beautiful season of color and crisp weather. As I stood looking at the calendar with my coffee in hand I realized for the first time that for me it was no longer back to school and making Fall crafts with my kids. The last of our four children just graduated in June, has his first car and a full-time job. For the first time in years I did not pick out home school curriculum and there was no making trips to the school supply store. The house was so silent and a wave of sadness swept over my heart as I had to come to terms with a new season.  Memories flooded my heart as I remembered each of these now grown adults when they were little ones in diapers. I thought that season would never end even though I loved being a mom. I remembered the homework and the agitation of trying to help them learn things that I had long forgotten. And then, when we finally got it, we all sighed in relief and high fives. I remembered the heart work of prayer when they were teenagers and  reinforcing God’s word again and again when it seemed like they were on the brink of spiritual compromise and it looked like the world was winning the battle. I remembered how many spiritual and emotional storms the Lord brought us through and I would fall on my knees in gratitude. Then that day came when they got their diploma and by the grace of God we could say ” job well done”!

In recent years I have watched my daughters walk down the aisle to give them over to their husbands in marriage and to God. As a result I have had the joy of becoming a grandparent. Now I get to hear about the first days of school from these little ones whose parents-my kids have entered this new season and window of opportunity. Love it!

Over the years I have encouraged moms (sometimes very weary moms) that motherhood is like a window. When our children are born the window is wide open. The opportunity to invest, spend time with, love and nurture them is ours for the taking. Memories can be made and character can be shaped. As they get older we begin to see how quickly they are growing and we wonder where the time went. The window begins to close ever so slowly but it does close and we know that the season does too. Yes we will always be their parents and the opportunity of continuing to love and encourage them never ends. But there comes that day when we must step back and surrender them to God to continue His work in their lives as adults. And continue He will!

The window of diapers and diplomas has closed for me but I can rejoice (with wet eyes) over the wonderful season that God gave me with my children. I can recall His faithfulness every step of the way and I can see new windows of opportunity wide open all around me.