Packing Up A Life

It has finally arrived….  The final month before our one and only daughter gets married!  In the multitude of my emotions crowding my heart and mind…there is this continual thought….she’s leaving us.  I’m so happy for her….but so terribly sad for her daddy and I.  I am not looking forward to the silent piano in my home or the vacancy of the sweet sound of her violin strings that have floated on the air and up the stairs as I’ve prepared a meal.  I am not looking forward to her absence in playing the offertories at church or accompanying her daddy as he sings a solo in the service.  I’m not looking forward to making meals for guests without her able help in the process.  I’m going to miss the best bathroom cleaner this side of Sheboygan!

This week I took a giant step toward this quickly approaching reality by bringing home some large packing boxes.  With all the courage I could muster up, I instructed her that it was time to start going through her room and throwing out things and packing up the remnants of her life….in our home.  I felt my insides tremble as I spoke those words.  As I walked away, tears filled my eyes, even as I knew I had done the right thing. 

Today, when I returned home, I had a sense that she was filling those boxes.  I knew that if I did not go downstairs to her room once in a while that I might not see her all day.  I took a deep breath and casually walked downstairs just to join her for a bit.  Perhaps we could talk while she packs, I thought….

I found a small spot to sit amongst the piles of sweaters and skirts and made myself comfortable on the side of her bed.  As I looked around her room and noted all my girl’s things….I found myself tongue-tied.  I had nothing to say….   She had nothing to say.  I think she knew that I was dealing with the situation and remained quiet.  Even Sebastian, our loved and adored canine friend knew something was changing…

Then the tears came…..  I couldn’t help it.  They came all by themselves…uninvited.  “I knew that was going to happen”, Cherith said.  Yes, she knew. 

As happy as I am for her and Josh….I’m equally sad for us.  They will be living a little over six hours from us and life as we have known it will be much changed.  There are many seasons of life that we all must go through.  It is ordained of God that we do so.   I see this passage that we are about to go through as a wide open door  to getting older…the senior years…aging and all that goes with the winter season of life.  We are giving our dear daughter to a young man who loves and adores her….and there is great peace in that.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

Yes, it’s a new season…. and I am so thankful that I have the Lord and my dear husband.

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…”  Ecclesiastes 3:11