March 19th

Often we must allow someone to launch out on the sea of life when we would rather have him stay in the warm circle of our supportive love and influence. A mother experiences this on her child’s first day of school. A father feels this as his daughter says her marriage vows to a young stranger and then happily drives away to begin her new life as a married woman. A wife knows the pang of it when her military man is called into battle. A sibling feels it when an elder one moves into a college dorm. It is difficult to let go. It is difficult to trust someone else with a loved one’s life.

We try to hang on for whatever reason, looking for excuses to reestablish that connection which has been broken, that connection of ‘presence’. The disciples tried to hang on to Jesus when He showed them the path He was walking toward Calvary. They used their reasoning to try to dissuade Him, but His destiny was the cross. Lovingly he reestablished the
connection of His presence through the Holy Spirit.

When that child comes home from school, there are tender greetings. That father soon discovers that he has gained a son and, perhaps, grandchildren. The military man usually returns to his family, and that deserted sibling soon leaves the nest himself. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and we look forward to the second advent of the Lord Jesus,
as believers. We need to trust our God that when we let go, our loved ones are held by His mighty hand.

THE SAILING
Though I release you to our God,
Though faithless I may seem,
It is the greatest faith of all
To let you seek your dream,
To let you sail away from me
Upon the surging stream
That often carries those who love apart.

Though I proceed upon life’s way
And face reality,
It is my ceaseless burden now
To search the stormy sea,
To watch the wide horizon now
And await God’s destiny
To bring you once again close to my heart.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You for Your presence in my life. Please, Father, help me to trust You with any of my loved ones who sail away from me.