Never Grow Up

“So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
Just stay this little,
Oh, darlin', don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
It could stay this simple.

I won’t let nobody hurt you,
Won’t let no one break your heart,
And no one will desert you,
Just try to never grow up,
Never grow up.

-Never Grow Up

That song gets me every time.  I know in motherhood it’s not healthy to want your babies to stay little. 

I know this, but it’s so hard!  

My husband said the other day, “I think Eliana is at the perfect age where I would freeze her in time if I could.  She loves me, she thinks everything is funny, she will dance with me and sing to me.  I just love this age.”

And he is so right!  

But yet, I know I must never make my children or teenagers feel like we want to keep them little.  I’m called to RAISE up these children God has put in my care, raise them into adults and then let them go to run their own race.  My focus has to be to help them become competent, God loving & people loving adults, in and of themselves.  

Now, this doesn’t mean I have all the answers for their life.  

I look at Mary, Jesus’ mother and see that even she didn’t know how the plan for Jesus would unfold.  We see that when she tells Jesus now is the time for him to perform a miracle at the wedding feast, (You can read that story in John chapter 2) and he rebukes her!  We also see from Mary’s mourning at the cross, that maybe she didn’t totally understand all that was to happen, or the order of the way it would happen.  (Then again, even if I knew my son was going to rise from the dead, it would kill me to see him in agony!) But, you get my point.  

I believe God will speak to my children about the plan he has for their lives.  It’s not my job to figure it out for them, although again this is a hard one to handle, because we dream big dreams for our kids, am I right?

But, ultimately, I want my kids to dream the dreams that GOD puts in THEIR hearts, NOT mine.  And in order to see them walk in that, we have to let them go at some point.

There was a time when I was sitting with the Lord talking about my own children and he asked me, “Why do you think that I gave Jesus to marry?”  I immediately said, “Well probably because she was patient and never lost her temper, she was probably a perfect mom.”  Instantly the Lord replied, “Nope, not those things, although she was a good mom.  It was because she knew how to let go.”  

Instantly I could picture myself in the garden of Gethsemane fighting the guards trying to take Jesus away.  I could see me fighting them at the cross.  I knew what the Father had meant.  He meant that she was able to let go of Jesus and allow him to walk in the plan and purpose he was created for.  Even if she didn’t understand it.  

And I instantly melted inside.  I repented and I asked my Heavenly Father to forgive me for trying to hold onto my kids.  I asked him to help me let them go when the time comes.  
Now, I strive to celebrate each milestone, to be the biggest cheerleader as my kids grow into adulthood & into their own.

Bu still, I will admit...

The days when we have our home full of hugs & snuggles, kisses & “I love you’s”, those are days I want to be etched in my memory forever.  I CHERISH these days.

And...I’ve already made it clear to my kids that they will need to come visit me, & give me a hug everyday when they move out.  

Who’s with me?