For the past few weeks our home has been filled with boxes. There have been boxes in the hallways, in the rooms and in the garage. Most of the rooms have looked like they were turned upside down. That is because within just a few days of each other Dennae has purchased a condo and moved out and we have dropped Lauren off at Gordon College near Boston, Massachusetts. So, tomorrow we will fly home to an empty house.
It isn’t like we have not had plenty of time to prepare for this. We have known Dennae would move out one way or the other this year. She was gone overseas for four months in Africa and Europe and has now graduated from college. We have raised her to be an independent young woman and we are very proud of her. Lauren has been leaning toward going out of state to college for several years. She decided on Gordon College around the first of the year. We knew this day was coming. We are also very proud of her and excited by the opportunity she is pursuing in her new life. We encouraged her to have the courage to make a decision like this. We are truly blessed to have two daughters who love their God and their family. We are confident that the world will be different because of the lives of these two very special young ladies.
As we sat on the bank overlooking the pond at Gordon and prayed with Lauren this afternoon, many emotions rushed to the surface of my mind. For some time, all I could do was sob. They were emotions of joy for what lies ahead of her and excitement over what she will experience and what she will become. There were emotions of relief and satisfaction that we had completed our mission of raising her in fear and admonition of the Lord. There were emotions of intense love for this young lady who calls me Daddy. There was a sense of loss that she no longer will look solely to me as her protector; and a sense of total trust in the Lord that He will be. There was a strong sense of sadness in knowing how much I will miss this sweet person who has truly become one of my best friends. Yet, there was also a sense of joy over how our relationship will now grow to a deeper level as she has less of a need for me, but still chooses to be my friend.
The college orientation staff chose a theme for the class of 2010 of Digging Deep and used Ephesians chapter 3 as its scripture. Besides this, my prayer for Lauren is that she will experience a scripture that she and I memorized together about a year ago. That is Colossians 2:6,7
"as you have received Christ Jesus, so walk in Him being rooted and built up and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. "
There is also a sense of what is next for Roxana and me. We have had as our primary calling for the past twenty-two years the raising of these two special people. Every decision we made, whether about our work, our recreation, or our ministry had been made in the light of that responsibility. Now we stand at the edge of a great gulf. We can truly say to God: “Lord we are available to you, send us where you will to do whatever you will”. We have always had that attitude, but have also known that He would not contradict our primary ministry calling. So, we have been children’s directors, and youth leaders, and we have made our home available to young adults and children to match the ages and callings of our children. All of this we have done with great joy and much blessing. There has never been a doubt that it was what we were called to do. But, it was also always a secondary concern to our most important calling.
I am excited to see how God will use us over the next several years. I am also excited to see how He will help us grow together in our marriage, now that we don’t have the children as a common thread to our relationship anymore. Sure they are still our girls and we will have grandchildren before too long (at least I hope so). But, that is not the primary focus of our lives any more.
Please pray for Roxana and me, that this will be a time of growth for us. I am confident that we will grow spiritually as individuals. But, I also want to see us grow together as a couple spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Life is good, because God is good!
3 comments:
Dennis, I almost cried myself reading this!
Let me tell you and Roxana something. You have done exceptionally well. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for my newfound big sisters. Apart from the profound impact your special girls have had on me personally, I have watched them both influence each person they come in contact with in similar, encouraging ways. They truly are extraordinary, and I have yet to meet a person that disagrees. It is obvious to all that the love of Christ is not only dwelling in them, but permeating through them as well. I need not go on any further about how amazing Dennae and Lauren are for the simple fact you already know—maybe even better than me! ;)
That was a joke.
Anyway, bringing the focus back to you and your wife, I also want to express how thankful I am for the ways you have helped shape me over the past two years we have been in each other’s lives. Not to say you two have been perfect, but I have never regretted submitting myself to your authority and guidance. I have parents of my own, of course, but I consider you to be treasured additions to that aspect of my life. I greatly value the relationship I possess with both of you, and it makes me thrilled thinking I will know you “for the rest of forever.”
And do not even get me started on how strongly I now aspire to have children (specifically daughters) myself! Just observing your interactions with “Nae nae” and “Lu lu” has bolstered this desire significantly. You have also helped me understand that I am going to have to hold back on fulfilling that aspiration until I can be a successful parent. For that reason, you have no need to worry—you will not be seeing any grandchildren from me any time soon. I am hoping that it will happen eventually, though. :)
I am getting tired now, but I will most definitely be praying for the five of us as we begin our trek down the new trails God has planned out. Maybe I will post another comment later....
I love and appreciate you, mi maestro.
Allie, You are amazing. I am so proud of you. It has definitely helped to have you here (even at my office). Thanks for letting me be more than just an uncle. I love you!
Daddy! :) I love you! It is so unreal that God has finally brought us to this stage of our lives... I still don't think that it has hit me. :) I truely appricate who you and mom have been in my life. You really are more than just parents. I'm looking forward to our realationship turning into more of a "grown-up" one... but you will always be my daddy. :) By the way... the theme was "Deep Roots" not "Digging Deep"... but no big deal. :) Love you Daddy!
Lu
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