A kindergarten teacher I work with makes a scrapbook for each of her students at the end of the school year.
Included among "letters to mom", handprints, drawings and achievements is a class picture with this message,"I am returning your child to you after nine months of learning -- a couple inches taller, a few pounds heavier, more confident and prepared for his next step in life."
It goes on to say that after so much time together, they will always be a part of each other and if someday, years from now, they meet on the street, they will both smile and get a twinkle in their eyes. Then she thanked the parents for the privilege of teaching their child.
I wonder what the label on my children will look like when they are grown and I let them go out into the world?
Perhaps something like this: "God, I am returning this child to your care. Though he is really no longer a child, I hope he will look to you as his Father. He is a different person from the squirming, squalling infant who was placed in my arms years ago.
I tried to teach him right from wrong from the time he was a toddler, and "please" and "thank you" before he headed off to preschool. I have laughed and cried with him, for him and because of him through painful childhood lessons and teenage heartaches.
Through it all I prayed and probably preached, about the need to trust and follow you. I took him to church and chaperoned the youth outings. I read my bible where he could see it and sent him to church camp.
I explained over and over why he couldn't when his friends could. I asked for you to help me be a better mom. I hope he thinks I was and knows that I tried my best.
I told him I loved him.
God, you know my prayers and love will never stop.I will always worry some and maybe even meddle a little. Help him to feel my love and yours.
I am returning him to you to continue to grow, to change the world for you, to someday do the same for his children."
With Inexpressible Gratitude,
A Mother
Happy Mother's Day!