As I was sitting for a few moments mesmerized by watching the birds at the feeders, thoughts were racing through my mind. I intently watched as the birds flocked energetically to eat up the rich nutrients offered in the seed and suet. They are so hungry this time of year, you can tell in the way they look when they are feeding during the summer compared to now. I’ve been thinking about how amazing it is that some birds choose to let go and leave for the cold winter months, and some decide to “go with the flow” and tough it out. Those who stick around know things are changing around them and they know it’s going to get more challenging, they choose to puff out their fluffy feathers and bear it, never giving up their home. But honestly, I can’t blame those to choose to fly southward either. I wondered for a moment if I would “judge” either for making the wrong choice. Should they stay or go? Well, they are just doing as their Creator has programmed them, for them there’s no choice.

However for us, our lives are full of choices. Do you ever wish the Lord would just program you to do His will so you could always make the right choice?  I sure do. Alas we are given the privilege of being different from the animals, we are special, we have choices. While being programmed to make the right choices all the time may seem desirable, being special, having a closer relationship with my Creator is the most desired of all. We as human beings have been given the ability to feel and love deeply, created in His image, and given a choice, for He loves us that much.

We are told to not judge (Luke 6:37-42), yet we as human beings tend to be very quick to do so to one another. I have been a great fault with this. However, I’ve learned in recent years to reel my tongue and thoughts in on all matters. I’ve learned that I don’t have all the answers and just because I choose to do it, doesn’t mean that everyone should. I’ve learned that while my choice to homeschool seemed for years to me to be the only one, I’ve learned that it is a “calling” and not everyone is called to do it. And that’s ok.

As mothers we all desire the best for our children. We want them all to succeed and thrive and be protected from evil. I’ve always tried my best to do this for my children. But I have one child who God has called me constantly to “let go of” and hand over to Him. I’ve held on for dear life, believing that I was to fight and not give up, and truly felt I was doing right in that, until recently. The Lord has opened up my eyes and has shown me how truly different children can be and that sometimes, just sometimes, maybe holding on and fighting isn’t the best thing. Maybe true strength and love is knowing when to let go and let God. For all my children are God’s children first, and each one needs to thrive in the way God has designed them. And this may not necessarily be in the way their parents see fit. I’ve often wondered how parents could choose to homeschool only some of their children and send others to another school. However, I am now joining those ranks. Our son will be starting at a Christian private school on January 4th, and while my heart breaks, I know this is being obedient to God. I am continuing to homeschool my daughters because this works wonderfully for them, however we believe private school will work wonderfully for our son. A good friend reminded me of the story of Hannah and Samuel (1 Samuel 1), and this has brought great peace to our choice.

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This entry was posted by Melissa on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 5:11 pm and is filed under Bible, Family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.