Elemental

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

 

On this, my first empty-nested Mother’s Day, I am reminded of the goodness of the Lord. My babies are all grown-up-ish. This season of mothering has come to its end. God has a purpose for everything and every time.

Once more, it’s time to do something new.

Just last weekend, I spent the perfect Mother’s Day with each of my children. After a particularly hectic week for me at work, I rose and hit the highway before 6 am to bring our son home from college for the weekend. We had 90 minutes in the car to laugh and catch up, listen to music we both love, sharing all the things we’ve missed being apart from one another.

By 9 am, I was logged in for a full, remote Friday at work. 

Saturday morning saw me back on the highway, this time headed due south instead of north, to assist the first born, moving into her new place. Now a college graduate, she found a beautiful place to make a home in the city, a 10-minute walk from her office. She is building a life. We managed a move, unpacked and got her settled, laughed, spent time together. It was a girls’ weekend better than I might have imagined. Filled of laughter, devoid of drama, minimal complications; nothing we didn’t handle. I came home Sunday to spend a few more hours with my son and his proud father before delivering him back to campus for the next term.   

We no longer have children; we have people. Older, wiser, more experienced, they are changed. Life will bring new challenges. There will be new hurdles to overcome. There will be successes. Heartbreak may befall them. I am grateful that God gave My Beloved and I charge over these two incredible souls.

We take this obligation seriously, and more often than not, we are beaming with pride.

In this new era, we can no longer expect that our so-called inalienable rights will not be trampled. The world may not always embrace them. I remain the fierce & watchful lioness guarding her cubs. Thank God they are shadowed beneath God’s Wing, even when I’m not around.

I am not sad; my heart has turned the page. My babies grew; my prayers are answered. 

I have a theory about life: In the first half, we acquire and put on, e.g., airs, sophistication, education, etc. In the second, we are distilled into our essential selves, stripped of all artifice and extraneousness. I am becoming elemental.

While mothering my young ones was an honor and a gift, and while I enjoyed numerous simple pleasures, each teaching me a lesson in gratitude I am thankful to have learned,

once again it’s time to do a new thing.

This year on Mother’s Day, I slept in. I logged into church. I played with our new puppy. My Beloved and I took our time and did only what we pleased. As he often reminds me, they were never meant to be little forever. My children checked in. Everything was as it should be. All is well.

Now, I will raise myself. While I am uncertain whom that new me might be, daughter of the Most High, made Imago Dei, I embrace her with joy. She and I are braced for brilliance. I welcome the new, honor what was, dance in the now. 

It’s all good.

It’s all God.

God is good.

Chelle Wilson
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