A Prayer for Letting Go

As it's now been over two months since Anna has been off at college, this prayer by Kayla Craig feels particularly poignant as we continue to make adjustments to this new chapter of life.  

 

"O God, in whom all creation exists

And who exists in all creation,

Give us strength

To loosen our parental grip

And let go

Of what

And of who

Were never truly ours in the first place.

 

The days felt so long,

And now it’s time to step back

So the one

Who will always be so little to us

Can move forward

To take their wobbly first steps

Into adulthood.

 

In the places we cannot be,

Help us trust You are there

With the mothering spirit of an eagle,

Rousing her chicks and hovering over her young,

Spreading her wings to take them up

And carry them to safety.

 

In the paces we cannot be,

Help us know You are there

With the fathering spirit of a shepherd,

Protecting Your lambs and caring for the young,

Leaving the ninety-nine to protect the one

And carry that one to safety.

 

As our child makes their place in the world,

Be the fresh air that fills their lungs.

Lead them to places of rest,

And propel them to keep going

When they’re road weary

And not sure if they can go on.

Build hope into their hearts

So they know they’re never alone-

Not for one minute, O Lord,

Not even for one moment.

 

Let every act of parenting’s past

And parenting’s future

Be an act of love,

O Lord.

Help us remember

That even in this dance

Of stepping back

And letting go,

You’ll hold them

As they journey on.

And You’ll hold us, too,

As we watch them soar.

And You’ll never,

Not once,

Let us down."

 

-Kayla Craig, To Light Their Way

a screenshot from Sally Lloyd-Jones, author of The Jesus Storybook Bible 

Ravenna Park 

ginkgo tree on 16th Ave NE 

many moons ago