My Nest is Not Empty…..
As I start my “official”day two of what the world calls “an
empty nest”, I am realizing that it is really just “what’s next”.
Sure, the view out my master bedroom door is
dramatically changed. Where “dark shades”
once hung to ensure optimal Xbox and tv viewing darkness, there is bright
sunlight. Where the gentle snoring on a
sunrise Sunday morning could once be heard, there is now a definite quiet, hush….stillness.
The children’s bathroom, which once housed a myriad of
men-child razors and girl-child hairbrushes all strewn about the sink is now
clean so that even you might be willing to use it.
The smell down the hall to my children’s bedrooms has
changed from Madison’s current perfume, the boy’s Axe shampoo, and shaving
cream to that of Tide laundry detergent and Downy softener.
This is all expected.
My own Mama prepared me for this day just as her Mama prepared her.
I have been a Mama for exactly 9,267 days, but who is
counting?
Well,
………I am
To be the mother to Madison E J McKenzie, Kenton P L
McKenzie, Joseph M S McKenzie, and Johnson R L McKenzie has to be one of the
greatest blessings of my life
I believe I was called to be a Mama
That does not mean that I am a perfect Mama, in fact, I and
they know I am not
That does not mean I will cherish every day of their life as
I should, I know I have not
That does not mean I won’t make mistakes, I know I have
That does not mean my heart was always in the perfect “Mama”
mode, for clearly, is has not been
But, what it does mean
Is that I have been bestowed one of the greatest blessings…gifts…tender
mercies God can bestow
That of Motherhood
And, that is a gift that does not stop the moment my
children fly the coop
In fact, I am sharply aware that my children need me more now than they
ever have
To be a solid foundation of reliability, peaceful presence,
faithful listening ear
To be a sounding board, a constant texter, and a
long-distance moral compass
I am pretty certain if you ask my children what their Mama
will be doing at 10pm each night, they will say “texting me Night ILY”
And, so far, they each respond in kind, “Night ILY2”
It’s not a big thing
It’s a huge thing which matters as they head out on their own.
This confidence they can have in the knowing
that their mother is just a text away, faithfully praying for their “smart
decisions” and good behavior. Their safety
and ability to make friends. Their doing
well and well-doing.
The knowing that as long as I take a breath on this earth, I
will be doing so with their names on my heart
I don’t know this because I am some sage and wise woman, or
because they have taken the time to tell me how important all of this is.
I don’t even know this because I think they
like it all the time…
I know it because as much as I am and love being a Mama, I
love knowing that my own Mama is doing the same for me wherever she may be….
And, I have witnessed up close and personal my Mama
preparing each of her children for this flight out of her nest….
She made sure I knew she was that reliable force back home
using all of her Motherly gifts (and, there are many) to grow in me a
confidence that no matter what, she would always be there for me be in in
person, coming toward me, or in prayer
That no one loves me like she does….never has, never will
And, that has made all the difference in my life
And, I believe it will do the same for my children
So, I don’t really feel like an “empty nester”….but rather,
much more do I believe I am a
“what’s next-er?”
I am not certain….really, only God knows
But, what I do know for today is that if I can give proof to
my children that next to God, their mother will stand beside them, in front of
them, behind them when they are in her presence
And, even when they are not in her presence
If I can give them the confidence that where they go, so do
my prayers, my thoughts, my love
That while they are spreading their wings,
I am holding down the foundation of their roots…..
Then, this empty next is really
What’s Next?
And, that will make all of the difference.
Blessings,
Lesa
PS. I do advise, however, that it might not be wise to mess with them....:)
