Letting Go

How many times in our lives are we faced with letting go of things we care deeply about? For an infant, it might be a bottle or pacifier. For a toddler, maybe a toy. For the elementary student, it’s leaving his/her familiar environment called home…away from mom and dad. As high schoolers, it’s preparing to let go of his/her childhood and move into young adulting. These are the common things.

Although the above situations may be more common, there are also others that would cause an infant to let go from the day of birth. For example, a parent or parents who, due to unfortunate circumstances, were unable to be involved with the child.

Letting go is a common practice. It doesn’t have age limitations and oftentimes goes hand in hand with grief, loss, disappointment, anger and pain.

Recently, one of our sons has decided to pursue a dream of his. It’s something he regrets not doing earlier. I understand his longing to see and accomplish greater things than he has ever experienced thus far…something he loves more than anything. Letting go for him means sacrificing much.

Currently, my husband and I are in a huge “letting go phase”. Three young adult sons…ages 20, 22, and 23 trying to find their place in this world. The first son, of course, was harder to let go. He was our “guinea pig”. He has taught us a lot how to let go…and LET GOD.

In life there is a lot to let go. Though it often isn’t easy, it’s imperative. The list of things in life we let go is quite extensive. Our environment is definitely a factor. Where and how we grew up is a HUGE contributor. In life we learn to let go of people, places and things. The older we get, the more we tend to leave behind.

How does one let go in a healthy way?

Here are some BIG life situations where we have been forced to let go…

The loss of our first child and my daddy were two major ones. More loved ones within these last ten years have followed. Some suffered tragic endings…

We changed our place of worship after 16 years, leaving an incredible church family we adored.

Most recently, our eldest son…whom we love deeply but haven’t heard much from.

A few key things I’ve learned but in no way have mastered relative to letting go…

Counseling can help.

Prayer

Letting go means FORGIVING OFTEN.

Most importantly, for me, it’s especially about SURRENDERING ALL CONTROL and laying people, places and things at THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.

Finally, this…

1. Philippians 3:12; “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” … Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”