Tuesday, August 4

Going, going. . .

Gone.

That's what my oldest son will be in two weeks. Just two short weeks from today, he goes to college. We move him into the dorm on August 18. Somehow, it's easier to think of moving him into the dorm rather than out of the house.

But the truth is that he's leaving.

I always wanted to be an at-home mom. I worked in the business world, full-time, until the day before he was born. Since then, I've been a work-at-home mom. Sometimes I've worked at home for pay; sometimes I've just been at home working. But I've had the incredible privilege of being able to identify my profession as "homemaker." I don't know how many forms I've filled out over the years on which I've had to list my occupation. Even during the times that I've been employed, I've still listed "homemaker." I'm so grateful to God and to my supportive husband that I've had the chance to have this job that I love.

This past week, as I was cleaning out my closet, I came across a little treasure. A piece of art that was given to me upon the birth of my oldest son.




It used to hang on my wall, but for several years now has been stacked in my closet. The artwork was done by a woman named Janet Casey. The writer of the words is not identified, although some of you will recognize them as having been inspired by I Corinthians 13. I wanted to share them with you.

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love--I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements but have not love, my children learn of cleanliness--not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints in a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.

I wish I had known how fast the "stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood" part was going to get here.




21 comments:

  1. this is beautiful! I partially understand your pain--my oldest is starting middle school--we are embarking on a new path with the end being he will move into a dorm! I am trying to walk with my youth a little slower!

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  2. Oh, Richella! Thank you for sharing that. How often I need to be reminded that my calling to to make a home, not keep a house! My daughter is not quite 3 but already I know that those precious childhood years pass in the blink of an eye. Today I will teach love.

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  3. My son is only 9 months old, but I got a little teary! What a beautiful gift and reminder.

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  4. May you heart be strengthened and comforted as you all make this huge leap. I can't imagine, but how life goes-- I know it will be but the blink of an eye before I have to.

    Thank you for sharing and encouraging the rest of us to savor the time too.

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  5. I had to wipe away a tear as I read this with my 1 year old perched on my lap. Thanks for the reminder to treasure these moments!

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  6. i took this journey with my oldest last fall. it has been a year of change and growth for all of us. I have to say - this year is easier but i know that the little one will be just as traumatic in two years.

    praying for you as you enter this new stage of life as mom.

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  7. beautiful!!
    Thanks for sharing it :)
    I think I shall post to it (and link back to you!) on my blog.

    Enjoy the next two weeks with your son still at home!!

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  8. I know you can't believe this time has come. Praying for the transition!

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  9. oh such bittersweet moments this spinning mamma thing.
    In a way I worry if I prioritized well, shared all the wisdom, the integrity.
    Heart with you on this transition.
    I have a daughter leaving this Saturday, and son in 2 weeks.

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  10. What beautiful words. So glad that you kept this gift from your son. I'm sure this must be a tough time with him moving into the dorm. See, not out of your house right? Thank you for sharing those words.

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  11. Hi, Richella, Just had to tell you I loved the tour of your DR, it is truly beautiful. Lucky you, those large built-ins are to die for. What a great house, with the arched doorways too. Thanks for coming to see me.

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  12. That is just beautiful. It made me get all weepy. :)

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  13. I am proud to be a "homemaker" too! But I need this reminder... to put the people I serve before the tasks & things. I am just 6 short years away from my first-born boy moving into a dorm... I am sure it will fly by. Blessings!

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  14. Love those framed words--such a powerful, hit me right between the eyes message! Thanks for sharing it with us.
    (And I can't even imagine college. I'm still freaked out about sending my oldest to Kindergarten in a few weeks!)

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  15. Thanks so much for sharing that. I needed to be reminded. :)

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  16. Oh my, that brought a lump in my throat, especially wiping the tears before the spilled milk. Makes us stop and reevaluate things in our life! I hope your son going to college is a smooth transition. How wonderful it is that you love your son so much that you are sad he's leaving. Most parents are elated when their kids leave.

    And, since I enjoy your blog so much, I gave you an award on mine today....

    http://karinewsom.blogspot.com/

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  17. okay... i'm crying!
    that artwork has done me in... and at the same time, justified all the times i have let my house go to pieces while i loved my kids.
    i'll be keeping you close to my heart these next couple weeks as youar e geting your son ready to move INto the dorm. just rememeber, your love has prepared him for this very moment...

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  18. Oh man, this brings tears to my eyes.

    My oldest is 9. It feels like I just brought him home from the hospital. In another 9 years, he too will be flying the coop. And even though I still have a few years, I miss him - and his brothers - already.

    I hope move in day goes well. You're a great mom.

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  19. Hello Richella - what a touching post. You are absolutely right as time does go by too fast and before we know it, we're faced with something like "letting go" that we put in the backs of our minds for so many years. I too have been very blessed to be home with my children. My oldest son will be 20 in May. Transitioning him from child to adult was one of the most difficult things I've had to do. But I love this season he's now in. It's just different. Thank you for sharing those beautiful words in the frame.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  20. I've taken this journey 5 times, now, mine left home to get married, and we are now blessed with 15 granchildren, another due any day. We still have six at home, the youngest is 14. The first was the hardest and then you enter a new season in your life with it's joys and challenges. I just found your blog today and enjoy it so much.

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