May 10

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” —EXODUS 19:4

How does a tiny baby eagle morph into such an amazing creature? The little eaglet cracks his way into the world, and is soon strengthening his legs, tearing his own meat, and testing his wings while the mother is hovering. She gives her little eaglet roots, stability, routine and nourishment until he’s able to fly on his own, and she lets him go. 

Parenting is not about holding onto our children for as long as we can, but about gradually letting them go. For many mothers, letting go is against their instincts. All they want is to protect their children, but there is the danger of overprotecting. Overprotecting moms are called ‘helicopter moms’, because they hover over their children into adulthood. Cell phones, facebook and texting are indispensable to some moms who can’t let go, but chronic use of them is addictive. At a certain point, our children need to be allowed to make their own decisions, as well as mistakes, and learn there are consequences, which then equips and prepares them to deal with whatever happens when they do leave home.

God did the same with the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:11-12 says, “…like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions, the LORD alone led him…” God sent plagues to Egypt, encouraging His people to leave, so He could bring them to Himself in order that He may guide them, provide for them and teach them dependence on Him. Sometimes we can make our homes so comfortable our children don’t want to leave. Like God, we need to stir up the nest, so they’ll learn to fly with dependence on Him. God wants them to discover underneath are His wings, His everlasting arms, which is where they’ll have security in any situation. 

There is a difference between flying and soaring, and eagles soar. There is nothing more glorious than watching an eagle soaring effortlessly on the wings of the wind, being all it was created to be. As our children grow and mature, they need to discover the wings of the Spirit. Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Filled with the Spirit, we are born to soar, and once we have given our children roots and the wings to fly, we need to let them go, so they can discover for themselves how they can soar in the power of the wings of the Spirit.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, on this day, my special request is that my children will discover the power of your Spirit. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I teaching my children dependence upon God?