The Poitras FOUR (taken just five days before Melinda left Ghana)
August 4, 2008
Every family with children gets here . . . sooner or later. The first child leaves the nest, and the whole family shifts gears. One less plate; one less voice . . . heard in the halls and walls of the house; one less passenger in the vehicle. . .one less.
This is a natural process, and Thank God, it is not forever . . . just for a season and a time in life when the world (as you know it) is forever changed . . . different . . . in a good way.
It doesn't seem very good right now . . . today. She has finished two weeks of Bible school, and we give God the glory for that. But the adjustment is still going on . . . in her heart and ours too.
The siblings left behind . . . how do they adjust? Closeness is great . . . until it is time to let go. Then, it hurts deeper and lasts longer, but the closeness is still there. Understanding the pain, feeling the loss . . . so thankful it is not permanent . . . just temporary for now.
Mom's concerned about the wash . . . will the clothes survive? Will everything get lost, or put away and safe? Shoes in their boxes, clothes on their hangers. . . skirts and tops together? Hair fixed and things in their place? Probably not, but we tried. Someone else will plan the meals, set the table, and call the roll in classes.
The parent(s) left behind during the transition process . . . how do they feel? Left behind means left out, right? But no . . . not this time . . . except in the heart. Decisions to make . . . what do you think? Money to spend . . . is that really necessary? Where and what and when and who and why and how . . . did they think of that?
"Dad, I love you . . . and need you. . . and want to share my heart with you. . . and want you to know what happened today. . . and hope you are well. . . and wish I could give you a hug. . . and miss you so much!"
What about the classes? Will she be on time, homework done, studied and prepared? The foundation has been laid. . . the course set. . . the understanding clear . . . now it's up to her.
Calls on the phone (only certain times of the day & week) . . . IMing in the night. . . e-mails as much as possible. . . and many, many prayers.
This is how we go from FOUR to THREE . . . and God help us . . . soon it will be TWO!
This is how it works . . . how it should be . . . how we thank and praise God for our family . . . and then there were THREE.
2 comments:
I don't like to think about that!
Linda, I hope you know that you all have been in my prayers. I have not communicated as much as I normally would due to our own situation but the prayers have still been going up! And if it is any help - it will NOT be any easier when Candra leaves the nest. And to think I have 2 that have left and still one more to go, will I be able to be heart wrenched yet again?
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