Let Them Fly!

addressing the open house invitations

Watching your child growing up is an amazing experience. I have found myself thinking a lot about Taylor, my oldest, this year. Somewhat sentimental, somewhat fearful, but always in prayer and in awe. Those of you with grown children know exactly what I'm talking about! And those of you with little ones will know all too soon!

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Being a senior in high school just seems to bring all those thoughts together. You know that your years of teaching are coming to a close and now it's time to let them fly and trust that what you have taught by word and example has made an impression. Well, I had a very clear affirmation of that recently!

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We've taught Taylor that if there is some kind of tension between people, it is always best to talk it out. To leave the situation unresolved and avoid confrontation is wrong and it creates a barrier that is unhealthy. Many adults have a difficult time doing this! And I've been guilty of it myself! It's crazy to avoid people or worse, act to their faces like everything is fine when both sides know that it is not.

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Well, Taylor found out that an older couple was offended by him. It wasn't a one time thing, but an ongoing problem, they said, although no specific circumstances could be given. Taylor drove himself to visit them, without our knowledge, and told them he wanted to talk about what they had said.

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Although the visit didn't seem to help the situation, (they denied the complaint, and said that Taylor had 'wasted their valuable time'), it was an affirmation to me and The Mister that he wants to do the right thing, even if it may be uncomfortable. I think he displayed a lot of maturity and wisdom. In those moments when he came home and told us what he had done, I thought... "Yes, he is going to be just fine as he prepares to leave this nest!"