Lately I have wondered whether a semi-empty nest might be harder and more poignant than a completely empty nest. Like ripping off a band-aid slowly instead of in one quick sweep.
In a big family everyone owns their own piece of the puzzle that makes up the whole. The comedian, the peace maker, the fun one who always thinks up great things to do, the adventurous one, the one who can regale everyone with hilarious accounts of the day's exploits.
You get used to the whole. And one by one the pieces need to get up and go, which is, of course natural and right. But the "eggs" that are left in the nest have to get used to the spaces left behind over and over again. It's just hard. And it makes you acutely aware that "they are not your own". they belong to God. And He is so thankful that you nested them for awhile until they could fly into His Will for them. We must rest in His gratitude.
One day they will ALL fly and the nest WILL be empty. And that will be a new season.
But that we have a nest at all is a wonder of a gift. Praise Him.
Good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. And coming from a mother of five whose nest is empty now, I find your description of how it feels to lose pieces of the puzzle one by one just spot-on. But about ripping off the Band Aid quickly--I don't know, because the totally empty nest is really tough! After a few years of emptiness, my husband and I packed up and moved closer to three of our grown kids. Now we're able to be a part of their lives again, as THEIR nests start to fill up.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm rambling...but I just wanted to tell you that I loved this post. It's perfect.