THEY left one by one over the years until only our twin sons remained at home. EACH parting wrenched my heart, not because I wanted to keep the children with me but because they all took their gifts and interests with them and left in the nest an emptiness that was replaced only by happy memories.
THEN the time came for the last two to say goodbye. As we began our trip back to the completely empty nest, my mood matched the weather - sad, dark clouds dripped their tears on us.
THOUGH I was sad in the knowledge that this part of my life was over, I felt joy in knowing that each child had trusted Christ as his or her Savior and had yielded to His call to service.
As I mused, my thoughts focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like her, I had chosen to do God's will. Her words, "I am the Lord's servant . . . May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38), often found an echo in my heart.
NOW as I thought of Mary, I remembered that after Jesus' return to heaven, she went with the disciples to the Upper Room. Her home empty, she was now actively pursuing a deeper life than before. SHE was not bemoaning her lot but rather was moving toward new challenges.
My first new challenge came a few nights later when the doorbell rang. A brokenhearted woman had come to my empty nest to receive counsel, prayer and comfort. I thanked the Lord for showing me that He could bring hurting ones to my empty nest and make it a place to show forth His glory.
M. McGarvey
"BUT one thing I do: . . . straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize (PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14)."
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