Empty Nest and Forward

This morning I read Numbers 14 in my devotions and realized some parallels with raising children and preparing them to take their place in the world. While I will be the first to admit that the empty nest is almost painful at times, I will also state that I am on a steep learning curve and want to rise to the top triumphantly. The twelve men that had been sent out on a mission to spy out the Promised Land came back and ten had a negative report and two had seen the same challenges and trusted God to bring a good conclusion. The people believed the ten and ignored the two who gave a positive report. The people cried and wept and murmured against leadership. They jumped to conclusions and tried to find another way to get out of their situation. They did not listen and so they suffered the consequences.

In a way, reacting to the empty nest situation is similar. If I do not accept God’s plan for my children but whine and murmur and am discontent with my position, I will lose God’s blessings and benefits. I will also burden my children and weary them with my attitude. So I have to let go of my children and pray for the Lord’s leadership in their lives. I am happy when they seek my ear and tell me of the happenings in their lives. But I must let them journey into their own promised lands as I journeyed into mine so many years ago. I am seeing my parents’ lives so much more clearly now. Each year from this Christmas forward will be very different and I must adjust or self-destruct. So I choose to adjust and go into the unknown. I am going to fill up the lonely places with things I enjoy doing, (not shopping) and try to be a blessing to people. This is not news, this is my reality.