"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127:3-5a
This passage has been seen in a new and insightful way this week by this writer. This past August, my wife and I had the difficult task of "dropping off" our twins on their respective university campuses for their freshman year - on the same day! Seth was first at Carson-Newman University and Hannah was next at Anderson University (SC). The hours of that weekend included move in day and say good-bye day, and those were some difficult hours. I remember how difficult it was to leave their respective campuses, to arrive back in Dayton - and then Grassy Branch Road - and then to walk into our home - with no Seth and Hannah. Throughout this year, Kim and I have learned once again what it means to live "without children" in the home; and yes there are pros and cons to this newfound reality!
However, this week, I experienced a day that seemed to me to be more difficult than that weekend this past August - I went to help Hannah "move out" of her dorm at Anderson University. Throughout the year, I have seen both Hannah and Seth flourish at their respective campuses. It has been very obvious they are both EXACTLY where God desires them to be at this chapter of their lives. It has been exciting as a father to see how our heavenly Father has been working in and through them in their "new world". They both are really flourishing as individuals and in their relationships with God and with others (so thankful for the great, Christian friends they both have made). As Hannah and I were preparing to leave the AU campus, I went out to the van and allowed Hannah to finish her dorm check-out and to say her good-byes to her hall-mates/friends. As I was walking to the van, IT really hit me. What IT you may say? This IT - that Hannah was exactly where God desires her to be and that she was leaving that place (although just for a couple of months) to come back to the "Jones home". This really hit me hard - and I began to tell/cry out to God that I was sorry that I was bringing her "home" away from her "new home" - I was sorry that I was taking her away from this new place that God has brought her to and that He desires her to be. I text Kim and told her "This day is harder emotionally to me than move in day."
However, it was also at this point that I realized why this day was so hard. Hannah was a well-crafted arrow that God intends to be launched by Kim and me - into the life that God has for her. This year was the beginning of that "new life" - and it has been a great year for her (and for Seth). I realized that these "arrows" that God had gifted Kim and me with were not intended to "stay in the quiver". Instead, our job as parents were to equip them/shape them/mold them into well crafted arrows to be used by and of God in their lives "after the quiver". This past year has been their first year "after the quiver" - and it has been a TREMENDOUS year. The reason why I was so emotional on this day was that I realized what an amazing arrow/young lady that my daughter was - and that she was truly flourishing "after the quiver". I was emotionally disturbed that I was bringing her back "to the quiver". Don't get me wrong, Kim and I both love to have both of our twins back in our home. But I realized that the time for them to be "in this quiver" was slowly fading away - and that brought JOY to my heart as I thought of how well they both are doing "outside the quiver". I began to thank God for his amazing wife in the lives of both of my children as I was walking to the van waiting for Hannah to follow behind soon to her car.
In just three days, I am going to get to experience this same type of "move out" day for Seth. He will be coming to the "Jones home" from his "new home" at CNU. I am certain that I will have the same feelings on that "move out" day as well. I have been reflecting on the amazing things that have occurred in Seth's life this year - that caused me to realize what an amazing arrow/young man that my son was - and that he also was truly flourishing "after the quiver".
Today, during the morning worship service at our church (New Union BC), the graduating seniors were being recognized. As I sat there watching this recognition, I began to think to myself (concerning the parents that were watching) the following thoughts: "I know this may seem difficult today - but as I realized this past week - it is this time that we were made parents for - to launch our children "out of the quiver" into their new lives. My prayer is that your children will flourish this next year (and the years to come) in the same way that my twins have flourished. So, be encouraged, this is what it means to be a parent - to LAUNCH ARROWS!"
How big of a blessing it truly is to have your children/arrows in your home/quiver over the years from birth through the high school years. There are so many great memories during these years. But truly how big of a blessing that it is to be able to LAUNCH ARROWS and know that they have landed right exactly where God desired them to land - and as a result be the person that God desires them to be and to do the things that God desires them to do. What a truly blessed privilege it is as a parent to be able to LAUNCH ARROWS. Dear God, my continued prayer is that these two amazing ARROWS (Hannah and Seth) will be Your weapons in the battle to usher in your Kingdom!
This passage has been seen in a new and insightful way this week by this writer. This past August, my wife and I had the difficult task of "dropping off" our twins on their respective university campuses for their freshman year - on the same day! Seth was first at Carson-Newman University and Hannah was next at Anderson University (SC). The hours of that weekend included move in day and say good-bye day, and those were some difficult hours. I remember how difficult it was to leave their respective campuses, to arrive back in Dayton - and then Grassy Branch Road - and then to walk into our home - with no Seth and Hannah. Throughout this year, Kim and I have learned once again what it means to live "without children" in the home; and yes there are pros and cons to this newfound reality!
However, this week, I experienced a day that seemed to me to be more difficult than that weekend this past August - I went to help Hannah "move out" of her dorm at Anderson University. Throughout the year, I have seen both Hannah and Seth flourish at their respective campuses. It has been very obvious they are both EXACTLY where God desires them to be at this chapter of their lives. It has been exciting as a father to see how our heavenly Father has been working in and through them in their "new world". They both are really flourishing as individuals and in their relationships with God and with others (so thankful for the great, Christian friends they both have made). As Hannah and I were preparing to leave the AU campus, I went out to the van and allowed Hannah to finish her dorm check-out and to say her good-byes to her hall-mates/friends. As I was walking to the van, IT really hit me. What IT you may say? This IT - that Hannah was exactly where God desires her to be and that she was leaving that place (although just for a couple of months) to come back to the "Jones home". This really hit me hard - and I began to tell/cry out to God that I was sorry that I was bringing her "home" away from her "new home" - I was sorry that I was taking her away from this new place that God has brought her to and that He desires her to be. I text Kim and told her "This day is harder emotionally to me than move in day."
However, it was also at this point that I realized why this day was so hard. Hannah was a well-crafted arrow that God intends to be launched by Kim and me - into the life that God has for her. This year was the beginning of that "new life" - and it has been a great year for her (and for Seth). I realized that these "arrows" that God had gifted Kim and me with were not intended to "stay in the quiver". Instead, our job as parents were to equip them/shape them/mold them into well crafted arrows to be used by and of God in their lives "after the quiver". This past year has been their first year "after the quiver" - and it has been a TREMENDOUS year. The reason why I was so emotional on this day was that I realized what an amazing arrow/young lady that my daughter was - and that she was truly flourishing "after the quiver". I was emotionally disturbed that I was bringing her back "to the quiver". Don't get me wrong, Kim and I both love to have both of our twins back in our home. But I realized that the time for them to be "in this quiver" was slowly fading away - and that brought JOY to my heart as I thought of how well they both are doing "outside the quiver". I began to thank God for his amazing wife in the lives of both of my children as I was walking to the van waiting for Hannah to follow behind soon to her car.
In just three days, I am going to get to experience this same type of "move out" day for Seth. He will be coming to the "Jones home" from his "new home" at CNU. I am certain that I will have the same feelings on that "move out" day as well. I have been reflecting on the amazing things that have occurred in Seth's life this year - that caused me to realize what an amazing arrow/young man that my son was - and that he also was truly flourishing "after the quiver".
Today, during the morning worship service at our church (New Union BC), the graduating seniors were being recognized. As I sat there watching this recognition, I began to think to myself (concerning the parents that were watching) the following thoughts: "I know this may seem difficult today - but as I realized this past week - it is this time that we were made parents for - to launch our children "out of the quiver" into their new lives. My prayer is that your children will flourish this next year (and the years to come) in the same way that my twins have flourished. So, be encouraged, this is what it means to be a parent - to LAUNCH ARROWS!"
How big of a blessing it truly is to have your children/arrows in your home/quiver over the years from birth through the high school years. There are so many great memories during these years. But truly how big of a blessing that it is to be able to LAUNCH ARROWS and know that they have landed right exactly where God desired them to land - and as a result be the person that God desires them to be and to do the things that God desires them to do. What a truly blessed privilege it is as a parent to be able to LAUNCH ARROWS. Dear God, my continued prayer is that these two amazing ARROWS (Hannah and Seth) will be Your weapons in the battle to usher in your Kingdom!
