This photo of my son playing college
baseball popped up in my memories today from 6 years ago! Good times. I miss this...and him. I’ll never forget the day we dropped him off nine hours away from home, in the middle of nowhere. He did not know anyone there and hadn’t even
met his roommates yet. Wow – I tear up
thinking about it. He survived it…and so
did I! He’s still far away from home but
he’s doing what he loves - coaching the game. We raised him up hoping he’d spread his wings
and soar one day. Hooray, he’s doing
it…but why is it so hard sometimes?
I still have one
birdie left in the nest and before I know it…she’ll be soaring also. She’s a teenager, and I’d be lying if I
didn’t admit that somedays I dread it like crazy and other days…well… let’s
just say…it could have it's advantages! :)
I know that the 3rd
time around isn’t going to be easy, and that’s why I’m so thankful Brenda L.
Yoder wrote the book Fledge: Launching your kids without losing your mind, just
for ME!! I’m happy to share MY book that
she wrote for ME! Okay, just teasing
about the “written for me” thing. All
moms of human beings of any age or stage – this book is for you!
I have gleaned so
much wisdom from its pages, mainly, the self-assessment exercises that follow each
chapter called “Building up and letting go.”
Reading it is the medicine I need to heal the mom grief that comes
with preparing my daughter for release.
It has also encouraged me to accept myself and reassess who I am as
and individual, friend and wife during this season of life.
Brenda is going
to chime in on my blog today! Woo Hoo –
I just love having company! She shares great wisdom with us momma’s. But wait…there is more good news! I’m giving away a copy of Fledge!! So, be sure to comment in the blog's comment
section or on the Facebook post where the blog is linked. I will draw a winner on Thursday!
Welcome Brenda!..................................
Why God Calls Warriors to Let God
By Brenda L Yoder
“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, are
children born in one’s youth.” Psalm 127:4
I watched through the pouring rain as my daughter walked away
from the curb hauling two large suitcases. It was a milestone moment—Mama had
no tears.
I had dropped Jenna off at the international terminal
multiple times before as she traveled to Guatemala as a short term mission
worker during her college and post-college years. She’s now a full time
missionary doing orphan care in Mexico. When I dropped her off in the past, I
couldn’t drive away without crying and worrying about her safety and nursing my
own heart. She has an extra special place as my only daughter and firstborn.
Instead of tears this time, there was joy. Jenna is a
seasoned traveler now, so I don’t really worry anymore. The personal growth
she’s developed on the mission field gives me peace knowing she’s healthy and
happy where she is. The passion she has for orphans and her relationship with
Jesus Christ gives me assurance that God’s taking care of her when she’s out of
my reach.
“Like arrows in the hands of warriors are children born of
one’s youth” Psalm 127:4 says. God’s word is timeless and powerful to meet
every need of life, including parenting. Psalm 127 instructs us that children
are designed by God to be released into the future He has for them. Preparing
them includes fledging their arrow. To fledge is to put feathers on an arrow, to
equip them to fly.
This is our mandate as parents—we’re supposed to get them
ready, to give them strong feathers for flight. Then we are to release them.
I appreciate the imagery of warriors that God uses for
parents. We defend, protect, and equip. When we release, we’re to be strong.
Raising kids is for warriors, not wimps. Raising them to be equipped for the
world outside of our quiver is God’s call.
Strong warriors release arrows so they can fly far, wherever
God takes them.
When Jenna chose a university far away from home, God
convicted me it was just a stepping stone to overseas work he was calling her
to do. The wimp in me wanted to pull her back in my quiver and say, “no way.”
But as a Christian mom, I had to face the fact if I was raising my kids to love
and serve Jesus, it meant I had to get out of the way and give up my
mom-rights. I couldn’t keep them close because it felt best for me.
The moment of no tears that rainy day meant God was
strengthening me as mom. It’s something you do over and over again as you let
go of your kids to God’s care. God’s word is sufficient to meet our every need, too. It’s on His truth
we stand as warriors who let go, again and again.
For
more on everything in the fledge stage of parenting—letting go, mom grief,
identity, facing midlife, and everything in between, get Fledge: Launching Your Kids
Without Losing Your Mind.
Jim Daly of Focus on the Family says it’s filled with “sensitive, biblical
wisdom for moms who want to help their children launch well.” It’s available online and at major retailers.
Join me on Facebook for our upcoming Fledge
Parenting Forum, and on Instagram,
Twitter,
and at the Life Beyond the Picket Fence blog at brendayoder.com
Brenda Yoder is a national
speaker, author, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and life coach whose passion
is encouraging others when life doesn’t fit
the storybook image. Authentic
and humorous, Brenda connects with women and moms in a way that will have you
laughing and crying all at the same time.
Her
new book, Fledge: Launching Your Kids Without Losing Your
Mind
is a personal handbook for parents in the season of raising and releasing kids.
Brenda’s been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul books:
Reboot Your Life and Confident and Curvy; the Washington Post, and
For Every Mom. Her first book for busy moms, Balance, Busyness, and Not Doing It All
released in 2015.
Brenda is also former
teacher and school counselor and was twice awarded the Touchstone Award for
teachers. Her ministry, Life Beyond the
Picket Fence, is
found at brendayoder.com where she writes about faith, life, and family
beyond the storybook image. Brenda is a wife and mom of four children, ranging
from teens to adults, and lives on a farm in Indiana. You can connect with
Brenda on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Join
her Facebook page to follow the new Fledge Parent Forum for moms
releasing their kids.
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