Letting Go

One of the hardest things in life
no matter how big or small, is
Letting go...

It happens all the time...

(it starts when we are born)
letting go
of the safety of our mother's womb
of the strong rhythm of her steady heart
of the cord that binds us to everything we'll ever need
in those nine months

(it continues when we are so dependably young)
letting go
of the breast
of the bottle
of the soft foods

(then while we are of the age of chasing fireflies)
letting go
of being provided the most basic of needs
of making mistakes unaware
of sitting in papa's lap

(we start to realize how it hurts when we become literate)
letting go
of naptime
of silly bear
of finding animals in the clouds

(and then the first tiny pains of security)
letting go
of chasing the boys in the schoolyard
of friends at the last school, and then the last
of the comrade who defended you in your weakest moment

(and the first heartbreaking pains of love)
letting go
of your first kiss
of moonlit walks at midnight
of dreams of the little white house with the picket fence

as we get older, we find ourselves...
letting go
of the bliss we found in ignorance
of family who is too busy
of loved ones who leave us forever

and as they go, we wonder who to turn to when we are
letting go
of our youth
of our dreams of sweet-smelling babies
of friends who take different paths


then, if we are believers, we remember
to NOT EVER let go
of our hope
of our faith
of Jesus

Hold on....
because He won't ever let us go.