Parents, are you holding on too tight?

We have two children, a daughter named Alex, who is 24. She has been married for 4 years to a son in law whom I adore. We also have a son named Austin who is in his second year of college. I have great kids. I tell people all the time that one of the greatest things that The Lord blessed me with is giving me an opportunity to be a mother! I loved every aspect of them growing up. The terrible twos that my daughter went through included. She actually was a very fun toddler, she was into everything, she was a climber and she explored everything!  

I couldn't believe how fast life flew, the kids grew up way too fast. I was standing there, watching, wanting the whole process to slow down. The slowest time that I had with the children, I feel was from birth to the year they started begindergarten.  Then... life really started. They went through the learning process of school, finding their academic abilities, and their interaction with other students. I was wondering if they had any talents such as dance, musical, what sports they would be good at, what their imagination was going to be, and what they would grow up to be, whether they were going to be a vet, or a zoo keeper.

It was hard, sometimes, to see your kids struggle, whether it was academically, trying to find the right friends to hang out with, or the emotional turmoil that one has when their dating and things don't work out. It was hard to watch all the different situations they went through. I had to remind myself constantly that I went through some struggles too growing up, and they had to learn from these situations. That the struggles they went through is what is going to shape our children into the person God wants them to be. I know all this, but yet I couldn't help not to worry sometimes. Worry if they were going to pass a test in a class that they were struggling with. Worry that they were going to get in a car accident when the roads are bad. Worry that they’re going to get involved with the wrong group of friends. You want to know the biggie for me is? What if my kids don't have a spiritually relationship with God?? These are just a few of my worries expressed out loud. 

Let's talk about the word worry. It is a crazy word one that has a tendency to drive our minds into a complete frenzy if we don't get a hold of it. Here in God’s word, this is what He says about worry. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27 NIV). I've always thought that scripture was pretty powerful. Not only is God telling us flat out not to worry, but to come to him with all things great and small and He will take care of you and your children. The key here is to come to him. Pray to him about your children. 

A few weeks ago our pastor was giving his message when he reminded us that we are to hand over our children to God. That they are his and that they are a blessing to us. I was taken aback for a moment, because I also knew this information too and I have done that. But I have a tendency of taking them back after I give them to God. I would pray, "Lord, they are your children. Please guide them, protect them, keep them from harm. Use their life so they may be a blessing to someone. Help them with whatever situation they are going through. Please Lord don't let anyone guide my children hearts away from their relationship with you." The prayer goes on. Now that my kids are out on their own, I find it a little harder not to worry. I give them to God and try to tell myself that Brad and I did the best that we could do raising them and now it's their turn to make decisions, mistakes all kind of life choices and we have to sit back and pray and try not to worry. I think some days are easier than others but in the mean time I will take comfort in this scripture. 

"Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6