facing the inevitable

for the past few years

we have been sending our children to discovery camp.

it's the same camp that chad and i went to when we were younger.

i'm so glad my parents let me go to experience it. 

i have had many great memories there since i was 7 years old.

 but this happens to be the first year that chad and i will not attended

in some way.

i have had mixed feeling about it.

on one hand, i was glad i wasn't going 

because frankly, it is not a very fun place 

for adults to be for many obvious reasons...

but not going also means handing over complete control 

in what happens to them while they are there.

 

what happens to them on the road,

what happens if someone is mean,

what happens if they get lost,

what happens if they lose their money,

what happens if they get injured, or sick, or crying, or whatever!

but the truth is,

fear and worry are the opposite of faith.

 i can't be with my children always.

they have to learn things without me and

they should experience moments in life

that give them opportunities to grow in independence

and responsibility even if they fail.

i know very well that they will 

eat a ton of candy,

stay up really late,

probably won't wear sunscreen,

might not come home with all their belongings,

and odds are they will probably cry and panic at one time or another.

 

but i also have no doubt they will

 make new memories and friendships,

try something daring and new,

sing, dance, laugh, play,

all while learning more about jesus

and their relationship with him.

 

them going off to camp

 happens to be a good thing for us too.

it slowly prepares us for the inevitable future

as they become older and more mature.

it's an opportunity to strengthen our trust in god

and not let fear and worry control our emotions.