Follow Me

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. Matthew 9:9

I didn't write the blog on Friday because we were en route to our youngest daughter's college graduation. We just arrived home, exhilarated and exhausted. Before I go to bed I thought it was a important to take a moment to reflect on today and big transitions in life. Today was a huge transition day for Phoebe and her classmates. And for us as parents too. Phoebe will begin a job in Boston in a little over a week. We have packing and unpacking and some repacking to do. She will begin her working life, fortunate to be employed in this economy, days after she has thrown her cap in the air and paraded across the stage. She is brave and smart and beautiful and very capable of facing all the transitions and challenges ahead. I am not sure I want to let her go yet. Being a Mom, I want to revel in her closeness, want to explore the women she is becoming in a slow and gentle time frame. But that is not to be. Some times God says "follow me", or "go there" and the time has just come.

Matthew sat at his bench unsuspecting. He was a tax collector among tax collectors sitting among the shops, chatting through the day. And yet the time came and Jesus called him forth. He wasn't ready, really, and there was no time. But he answered and followed and live to tell us stories of Gods goodness to us all.

Tonight I want to give thanks for the gift of family and children. Each one is a gift, each one a treasure to be held close when possible and set free when it is time. May we all have the courage to follow and to go when we are called, and to let others we love go when they are sent forth.