I'VE NEVER PUT MY DD ON AN AIRPLANE WITHOUT ME...THAT IS--UNTIL RECENTLY. (I was being pushed out of my comfort zone...yet again!)
YES, THERE WERE ADULTS CHAPERONING...(but they were not ME. I wanted to go and be THERE--I cried out in my heart and he answered..."Teach her to be on her own little by little; with other supervision, not your supervision").
THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF FUN (AND SINGING) ON THEIR TIMELINE IN THE "CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS"...(which really wasn't a concern b/c she's a big sleeper and very demonstrative about being quiet so she can sleep).
MY MOM'S LIST EARLIER IN THE WEEK HAD BEEN CLICKING ON AND OFF IN MY HEAD AS I CHECKED AND RE-CHECKED HER "TAKING" LIST. THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE LEFT I FILLED THE AIR WITH MY " WELL, WHAT IF..., AND WHAT IF, AND ...OK, HOW ABOUT..." THOSE PHRASES ROLLED OFF MY TONGUE (b/c my tongue could run, as J. K. Rowling said, "could run faster than SEVERUS SNAPE confronted with shampoo!") "MOM, I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED...I THINK." (it's the "I THINK" whirling around in my head once she was gone that bothered me...I prayed she hadn't left something important.)
YES, NOT BEING ONE OF THE CHAPERONES MADE LETTING GO HARDER FOR ME (not her though, she loved claiming independence without my being by her side...He whispered, "Yes, little by little, that was good". Immediately I had moaned, "But I want to be theeeeeerrrre, with her". [could you see me trying to stomp my foot as I swayed from side to side?]).
DD WAS SO DUTIFUL AND CARING...SHE TEXTED A MESSAGE ONCE LANDED AT LAGUARDIA...(and I hadn't even reminded her to do so! : ) : ) which was a 2-smiler for me!] )
HIS SCRIPTURES, THOSE GOD-BREATHED, WONDERFULLY HOLY SCRIPTURES SAVED ME AGAIN...COVERED ME, PROTECTED ME WHEN I WAS IN "THAT PLACE" OF "NOT KNOWING" HOW THINGS EXACTLY WOULD BE GOING. NOT KNOWING MINUTE-BY-MINUTE WHERE SHE WAS AND WHAT SHE WAS DOING (His Word washed new breath and understanding over me with his promise).
HIS PROMISE STILL STANDS...HE TRAVELED WITH HER--HIS PREVENIENCE HAD ALREADY RUN BEFORE HER. IT GOES BEFORE EACH WHO BELIEVES ON HIM.
HE ANSWERED WHEN I CALLED, SHOWING UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE (I got wonderful joy seeing the look on her face as she eagerly repeated "I'm really going to New York!", while clapping her hands and bouncing up and down in the uncomfortable chair of the airport atrium. Her excitement and expectancy of a great trip and new sights were contagious and made me giggle with her...but, I wasn't as cute bouncing up and down in my chair! I know, sorry for the visual)
LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS WAS ANOTHER COMFORT ZONE "STRETCHED". ONE STRETCHED LIKE A SWIMMING CAP (a little uncomfortable in the beginning but serving a purpose... as He provided for and protected me). LITTLE BY LITTLE, HER WORLD OF UNDERSTANDING WAS STRETCHED AND EXPANDED DURING THE TRIP(maybe a little uncomfortable for her at the beginning but serving a purpose as He protected her along the way).
GRADUALLY I'LL CONTINUE TO BECOME MORE OPEN TO THE REALITY OF HER ADULTHOOD; HER WORLD AWAY FROM US ONE DAY. HIS PROMISE FROM ISAIAH IS AS REAL FOR ME AS IT WAS FOR THE ISRAELITES 2000 YEARS AGO. I STAND ON HIS PROMISE...IT IS FOR HER, TOO...AND FOR THE TWINKLES (who are not even in her eyes yet).
WHEN HAVE YOU HAD TO RELEASE SOMETHING
WHILE STRUGGLING WITH LETTING IT GO?
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
