Have Daughters? They Will Leave.

Lunch at Stanford Elementary School was always predictable. I loved the chili they served every Wednesday. I could add crumbled crackers to soak up the liquid and eat it with a fork. It was really good. So were the hamburgers on Thursdays. Friday fish patties were flat rectangles with more batter than fish. Yuk. So three days each week, I “carried”.  In the second grade, Mrs. Binns’ class ate before 11 am, so I had to eat a lot to make it through the day.  Sixth grade…Mr. Brinkman’s room didn’t have lunch until after 12:30, so I was always starving.

As a boy, I needed a big lunch. I thought about lunch. I prepared for lunch. Going to my summer job cutting grass at the Tennessee School for the Blind, I usually took three Plumrose boiled ham sandwiches with extra mayo and three Little Debbie cakes. I don’t remember anyone ever wanting to share my lunch.

So when I read in John 6: 4-14 the account of Jesus taking a boy’s lunch and feeding over five thousand…sure, I am amazed at the miracle Christ performed…I am also captivated by the young boy. It seems that he might have been the only one who came prepared for lunch. Not only that, but he was willing to give up that lunch. Did he have any idea what would happen? I’m pretty sure that, if it were me, I would have held some back; kept a couple of those loaves to insure that I had something to eat.

If you need to refresh your memory of the story, find it at this link.

http://bible.com/59/jhn.6.4-14.esv

The boy did his best.  He came prepared, but what he had was for him; it would not feed everyone.  It was “not enough.” Only when he surrendered it all, did Christ turn what the boy brought into enough food for the whole crowd.  We’re talking more than five thousand men.

What does this have to do with daughters ( or sons ) leaving home? Maybe you have experienced what I did when my baby girl moved out. Or, maybe you will some day.

THE MOVE

Tonight, I am helping my baby girl

Prepare furniture for The Move.

She thinks the sofa gift is for filling gaps

In her new apartment.

For me it is a way to insure that

More of our home stays with her home.

The Move is for real this time.

The Move my mind tricked me for years

To believe was far, far away.

But along came life.

She’s leaving, as she should.

Still, my heart is heavy.

Somehow it is different with the baby girl.

The one too much like me.

The one who took her first bike ride

Down the street before learning how to stop.

When I lived through this before,

It was difficult.

But then, one still remained.

Another chance to get things right;

Another chance to do things better.

But this time, it is finished.

Nothing can now be done

But prepare the furniture,

As my mind battles against

The “too many’s” and the “not enough’s”.

Too many times that I got mad when she got mad;

Not enough times I just hugged her through it.

Too many nights spent on business trips;

Not enough evenings spent playing store.

Too many times I just had to teach her a lesson;

Not enough times I let her teach me one.

Too many times I said “Don’t mess up your clothes”

Not enough swimming with sea turtles.

Too many silent drives under the speed limit.

Not enough crashing pedal boats into yachts.

Too many softball games I played;

Not enough tea parties she served.

Too many presents she received;

Not enough gifts we gave together.

Too many warnings;

Not enough prayers that she heard.

Too much TV football;

Not enough beach paddleball.

Too many serious moments;

Not enough random celebrations.

Too many times worrying;

Not enough trust.

Preparing the furniture can be done tonight.

Preparing for The Move took twenty-four years.

Precious little time remains.

Time only to regret bad choices.

Time only to lament missed opportunities.

Is there hope for what I cannot undo?

I can only trust my Lord,

Who forgives me too many times;

Who took not enough loaves and fish

And fed five thousand,

To multiply my “not enough’s”

And make them sufficient

For her to always know my love.

Skip Burke 2004

How much depends on us doing all we can? Making the right choices? Getting our priorities right? How much can we expect Christ to multiply our efforts? Maybe the answer depends on how much we surrender to His will along the way. Wouldn’t you at least want to be one who arrives with a few loaves and fish in hand to turn over to Him…and trust His power to make “not enough” into plenty. Invest your time. Prepare. Beware the “too many’s”.

Prayer: Father, help me to make good choices about how I invest time in my family. Help me to exemplify You in my behavior toward them. But help me to surrender my will, my all to You, so that You might turn my futile attempts into something that glorifies You.

He can do that, you know.

Please follow and like us: