All By Myself

We reviewed basic safety tips. Don’t lay your purse down. Keep your suitcase and bag in front of you where you can see it at all times. Keep your phone on and with you. You know the drill. Finally we hugged her and kissed her and said teary goodbyes. Then she reluctantly left us, went through the security check point and on to her gate to wait for flight #6177. All by herself.

For months she has felt more grown up than her 16 years as she has planned this trip. She looked forward to being independent, traveling by herself, no mom and dad, similar to her “All By Myself” stage 13 years ago. The talk was big until the night before when the what-ifs set in.

What if I get sick? What if I have an emergency? Who will take care of me? What if terrorists take over my plane? What if I get kidnapped?.....

When reality hits, it is rather sobering. She would be out in the big world and her parents would not be with her to protect and look after her.

This was nothing new to me. As a mom, what-ifs had set in for me a month ago when I clicked submit to purchase her plane ticket. I’m sure I don’t even have to spell out all the scenarios my clever mind came up with. They ranged somewhere between horrific and ridiculous, causing panic and worry.

If I follow the what-ifs out..What if she does have an emergency?...What if she does get sick? What if the worst does happen?... I will find God at the end. I will find Him holding her in His arms, which, by the way are bigger, stronger and much more capable than my puny arms.

She isn’t really my child at all, I have just been given the privilege of keeping her for Him. She belongs to the Savior, the Creator, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the Eternal Father. And He loves her infinitely more than I am even able. I don’t want her to trust in her parents, I want her to trust in her Heavenly Father.

Lord, still my heart and draw my daughter closer to You. Teach her to trust in You and You alone. And help me to stay out of the way.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 NIV

5 This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

they will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

8 They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”