Whilst drivin’ my sweetie to school this mornin’, the mornin’ show I listen to had an interestin’ question come up during a “reading Reddit” segment. Without gettin’ into the details, a woman was talkin’ about her grown daughter makin’ a decision that she wasn’t all that jiggy with and wanted advice. The show did what the show does (it was actually informative and funny, which is why I like listenin’ to it!), but it got me thinkin’ and… welp… here we are.

First, to answer that Reddit lady’s quandary, I’ll quote my favorite 38 Special song when it comes to raisin’ any child that is old enough to drive and definitely old enough to drive you crazy… “Hold on loosely, but don’t let go.”

Teachin’ middle and high school kids for the past 15 years or so has taught me one thing. The same thing bein’ a dad of one of them taught me. The same thing bein’ one of them taught me. “No” means “game on.”

But if you stop, look, and listen (hey, I’ve heard that somewhere before!), usually there’s a path forward. And when the kids become adults… it becomes even MORE important to do just that.

Every time I start to think about… well… anything that I could stop and “if I were you……” I try (I’m not perfect, just ask OG Lil’Bit!) to remember THE Father. If, in my limited vision, I can see pitfalls and roadblocks… imagine just how much more HE can see. Yet He’s up there shakin’ His head (I picture Him sayin’, “That nit-wit Cecil, don’t he know anything!!!”). Yet He still loves me. He still lets me make mistakes. He still is there for me when I really need Him.

He is still my Lord and Savior.

Kids wander. Grown kids wander too. If they do, it’s our job to be there — just like the father with the coat, runnin’ down the road when they’ve realized where home is, no matter how far they’ve roamed or how old they are.

Just a thought from a grateful son that has an awesome son and grandson.

Bible Verses

Luke 15:11–32 / Romans 10:1-13

Questions

What does “Hold on loosely” mean to you ???