"Time to Let Go" at the Mothers of Daughters blog today

On the day my oldest daughter was born, I sat in the hospital room holding her close, and I said the most unexpected and strange words to my husband.

“I feel like my job from now on is to teach her to not need me.”

Not exactly the words you’d expect from a first-time mother holding her newborn.

In fact, you might expect the opposite reaction:

“This world is so dangerous; I need to protect her.”

“People are bound to hurt her; I must hold her close.”

“She might not feel loved; I must smother her with affection.”

I suppose that growing up with parents who encouraged my independence might have contributed to my own parenting instincts. I suppose that losing a sibling at a young age may have affected my parenting style as well.

But in that hospital room twenty-two years ago, I had a very deep sense that the Lord was speaking something important into my life. . . .

*****

You all know I write at the Mothers of Daughters blog once a month, right? *wink wink* This month I'm writing about letting go. It's been on my mind just a little bit lately since my oldest will be graduating from college next week and moving out of the house this summer. I'll probably write more about that next week, but join me over there today to read the rest of this post.

And while you're at it, pass the Kleenex.