My oldest son has suddenly become a senior. He has three more weeks of classes. And in a whirlwind Memorial Day weekend he will graduate, have his Open House, and move to Camp Barakel for a summer of ministry there before he goes to Cornerstone University as a freshman next year.
Time goes by so quickly! I am so glad that we and I had an excellent Spring Break trip around Europe. It was encouraging to spend extended time with him in cool places. We worked well together over the time and I was able to see some of the excellent character that God has worked into him as a man who is growing in faith.
The advance of time has one barb of cruelty that seems to be pretty consistent in parenting. I still see him as a little boy. Certainly my eyes work and I can see his stature. I hear his increasing maturity. I know he has already grown past me in many areas (especially music!). But the problem has been how often in the past few years I have NOT released my grip on parenting him like he was still that little boy I spent so much time with 10 years ago.
We have one more month until his relationship to our household changes. I know he may be back for shorter or longer stints in the coming years. But next month he moves out to a new stage in his life.
I am so thankful to God for the man that Adam has become. It is hard to believe that he will be launching out a month from now. I have known in my head that this day was coming. But my heart has sabotaged the preparation with denial.
If I had it all to do over again I would’ve started lightening up my grip earlier. But I am confident that God’s got Adam in this next stage of life. And I look forward to seeing what God is going to do in and through him in the coming years. What a journey. It has felt like running a race on a moving sidewalk!