Teach Us to Pray - "Letting Go"

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh." - Matthew 19:5

Jesus begins to answer the Pharisees questions regarding marriage by quoting what God had already said in Genesis 2:24. Jesus sends two messages with this answer. One He was one with the Father, whatever the Father had said was what Jesus would always refer to when answering challenging questions. Second, He reiterated nothing had changed from the beginning of man. God had formed man and woman for one another and it remained as God's will and standard for marriage.

Often when we hear these verses, we think about the leaving of the man. Now as parents of two sons who have left our home and are now joined to their wife, I also see  the emphasis of this scripture to the parents as well. We have to let them leave. Sometimes that is hard because our family dynamics are changing. However as our children become adults and marry, the roles of mother and father should change as well.  

I heard a quote from Dr. Henry Cloud on parents preparing to let go of children as they get married. He said, "If you want your children to have successful marriages, you, as parents, have to let them go and let their spouse become their first priority, not you." Wow that really hit home for me. Our season of a family of five all under one roof was changing and change can be tough when we don't have the right perspective.

Do you need to step back or be less involved in the daily lives of your married children? Are you finding the changing dynamics of your family difficult to accept and navigate? Ask the Lord to help you to appreciate the years of pouring into your children and now seeing them walk on their own. Ask for a greater love for your now expanding family. Enjoy seeing your son or daughter create with their spouse their own family, full of love, their own traditions, and dynamics. Be willing to take a step into a new role and season.