When my children were young, Madi was about 2 and Jake 4, Madi was sick and needed to go to the doctor.  It so happened that Jake had a well check visit coming up in the next few days so, out of convenience, I rescheduled his appointment so that I could kill two birds with one stone.  Jake had had several ear aches in his short little lifetime and he HATED shots.  He used to call them stickers and when we would head to the doctor, he would say, “I don’t want a sticker!”  It took me a while to realize that he wasn’t talking about the Buzz Lightyear sticker at the checkout counter, but the shot, or sticker as he called it that actually earned him a Buzz!  Anyway, I decided not to tell Jake ahead of time that he would be seeing Dr. Young, as well.  When Madison finished with her appointment, it was Jake’s turn.  The visit went okay, until the doctor said that the nurse would be right in to take care of his booster shot.  That’s when things went south…”But I’m NOT SIIIIIIICK!”

Sometimes that same scenario happens to us in adulthood…we are going along with life by the horns.  All systems are a “go” and life is good.  But, unbeknownst to us, we have an appointment for a check-up. 

I had a check-up last week.  Our oldest son, Tanner joined the Air Force, swore in, and boarded a plane.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love this country and I love and admire our military.  I am proud to be an American and I am so proud of the men and women who protect and defend us.  But as a mom, watching my son raise his right hand and take an oath and then watch as he literally steps into a new destiny…if I am honest, it about broke my heart.  I had other plans.  I wanted him to live 10 minutes from me so that I could see my grandson and soon-to-arrive granddaughter a few times a week.  My plan was to attend their sporting events and school plays and to have “Fab Fridays” at GiGi’s house. I was comfortable and my plans were safe.   My plans were interrupted. 

So last week as I sat in the doctor’s office for my own, grown-up check-up…I learned a few things:

1)     I learned that our children are only ours for a short time and even then, we hold them with an open hand.

2)     I learned that just because the plan wasn’t my plan…it doesn’t make it the wrong plan.

3)     I learned that my son is a man…a man with eternity and adventure in his heart and now is his time to live.

4)     I learned one more time…that when I prayed for that little boy, He listened.  I asked the Lord to protect him and direct him.  I asked the Lord to show him the way to go and never let him get too far away to hear His still small voice.  I asked Him to make my little boy a great man.

Well, as I watched Tanner from the back take the first steps toward His calling, I heard that still small voice say, “I’ve kept my Word this far and I don’t intend to stop now.”