This past month brought unexpected changes. Our youngest child suddenly moved away from home. Although he’s in a safe place and is doing well, it has been an emotionally challenging adjustment for me.

I think it is natural for a mom to view her youngest child as “the baby” forever. It’s hard to picture your last child as anything but a child, but in the blink of an eye, your baby is all grown up and learning to navigate his own life without you.

As my son gets his first real taste of independent living, I am genuinely happy for him, but I also have a feeling of deep loss. How will I cope with the hole in my heart? Memories are a sweet way of holding onto the special times shared with our children long after they leave home. Looking forward to sharing time together with our adult children brings glad anticipation and helps alleviate the void we feel after they “leave the nest.”

Only by God’s grace and by trusting Him to watch over my son’s life will I have true peace and learn to let go of that little boy and embrace the incredible young man who has emerged.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” II Corinthians 12:9a