I went to bed really early last night because I was tired for sure but also because my heart was heavy. Did you know that you can have a heavy heart over a good thing, even something that is an answer to years of prayer? You can.
If you have visited here for a while you probably know that my daughter and my six year old grandson lived with us from the time he was born until he was five years old. For those of you who have had grandchildren live with you, you know that causes a special and unique bond between the grandparents and grandchild.
Yesterday after his baseball game my grandson was given the option of going home with me and his pop pop or going home with his mom. There was a time not so very long ago that he would have (without hesitation) said he wanted to come home with us but he (without hesitation) said, "I want to go home with mommy".
His answer took me by surprise and even caused a little twinge of something inside me. I thought about it off and on for the rest of the day. Why was it significant? Why did it make me sad? What did it represent? Shouldn't it have made me dance with joy?
After a long and sleepless night I woke up to these words in my devotional...
"Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitation of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda. If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life; a time for everything, and everything in its time." Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
You see for so long I have been trying to work out this very situation before it's time. I have fretted and worried about it for years writing out various scenarios in my mind on a nearly daily basis. This morning I felt the Holy Spirit gently and reassuringly tell me, now is the time to let go.
"There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1
Our house is our grandson's (and all of our grandchildren) safe haven and will always be his home away from home. But God in his infinite glory has raised up my daughter to provide him with his primary home and where ever she may move to physically, his home will always be with her.
Let the dancing for joy begin!
xo, Patty
Note...for those of you who asked the bible I faith illustrate in is an old Note Maker's Bible Wide Margin Edition and I am not sure it is still available but here is one similar.
Beautiful post Patty! Our daughter and grandson live with us and have been here since just after his first birthday. He is now 4.5 and they will be with us until she finishes university, so another 2.5 or so years. We're building a new house so they have a private apartment but he's already told us we can't "lock" the door so he can come up and play or snuggle in bed with us. Cherishing this special time but not looking forward to the day they move on.
ReplyDeletePatty, I don't know much about this as I do not have children but my immediate thought was....you are human. Own your feelings...never deny them and I promise that they will sort themselves out much faster.
ReplyDeleteGod is good all the time.....so grateful we can always go to Him.
Barb
I hear you, Patty. I have suffered that same heartbreak a few times over. Your heart, just momentarily, plummets to the depths of your soul....it is a sad/bittersweet moment. You have moved to the stage of acceptance pretty quickly...but it will hit you again from time to time. Blessings- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteOh sweet Patty -- this is a GOOD reflection of you and your family !!! Nothing but genuine wonderfulness........Our little grandson was with us while they stayed "home" with us to save for the purchase of their first house. It was so fun, but we raised our own well enough to take care of their young family ............you all raised a beautiful family and from that ---continual beauty blossoms! Love on this wonderful Palm Sunday oxoxoo
ReplyDeletei love this post.. thanks
ReplyDeletehttp://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/2015/03/born-pretty-jewelries.html
Patty, Find your happiness in knowing you raised a wonderful daughter who is now making a loving home for your grandchild. God is good. Blessings to all, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteI love your honesty, and I understand your dilemma. I am so grateful for the times that God's word has spoken directly to something I was wrestling with and I am glad you found peace in this.
ReplyDeletePatty. this post is so good! While I still struggle to be so open all the time, I really appreciate your honesty here. The scripture about there being a season and a time for everything has always resonated with me and helped me through various things as I remember it's only a season and in Heaven there will be four season of joy! I love how you said something in the beginning about fretting over things that are even good and answers to prayer, because I have been there, ha! I usually feel guilty when I do that. Girl, your writing and life has really ministered to me over the years. It's a shame we live so many states apart otherwise I would love to sit with you over some coffee and muffins to really become friends. :) In the meantime, I will always come here to visit!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie
How oh so timely is your post. How timely. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this.
ReplyDelete