When your kids are babies you revel in every discovery they make, new steps, new foods, new friends…the learning is so exciting. My son is now 13. He is still making new discoveries and taking new steps, but now it seems every one is bittersweet. He bought himself his first piece of clothing, he finds his parents kissing is suddenly gross, he checks out girls and they check him out, he registerered for high school. And for the first time tomorrow is traveling internationally without Mom or Dad (thank you Grandma and Grandpa). 

The clock seems to be ticking and with each tick one stroke closer to midnight when he'll be away…how did college get so near? Did we prepare him enough, did we protect him too much, will he sail through the upheaval of the next 6 years unscathed by what the darker side of life brings so many? 

I wonder if this is a small bit of what God the Father felt as he sent his Son into this world. Did He cringe with each insult? Did He wince at every scourge? Did His heart break over the pain of the cross that held His son, wanting just to hold Him in safety? Jesus had a role to fulfill, a calling to follow and a job to do for this world. No one else could do it. So each step to independence my son takes also takes him closer to what he is here for. My holding him back won't do the world any good....

Except it still makes this sentimental mom's heart want to hold tight, anticipating and preventing every potential pitfall or heartache…