Empty Nest: The Great Exodus

 My husband and I became empty nesters a little over a year ago.  Our eldest got married to a sweet girl and our youngest started college. 

I have been a part of a youth group (of some sort) since my children were small.  I am still involved in the youth group at the church we regularly attend. When our eldest was about 15 years old, we began hearing the overwhelming statistics of how young adults between the ages of 18-25 years old cease from meeting together with God's people on a regular basis.  The statistics were astounding.  I, naively and with much pride, thought "oh, our children won't be part of that statistic".  Raising them in a church has been a part of our family's fabric...

How naive could I have been? 

How much pride could one statement contain?

Why did I think that 'my parenting' would prevent them becoming part of the statistics?

But this entry is not about the exodus of young people...

This entry is about the exodus of the 'old' people.  Particularly, this old person. The pride of thinking we wouldn't be part of that statistic smacked me in the face - HARD. The pride of thinking that  'it wouldn't affect my household'. The pride of thinking I knew 'so much'....not realizing that all of these statements were about me.  The statistic doesn't include empty nesters like my hubs and me, but they should. 

When our children were living at home, I had a daily reminder of why I was doing what I was doing--They were walking around, eating, chatting, coming and going.  I felt a deep sense of responsibility to 'do what is right' when they were constantly watching.  

And trust me, when they get to the teenage years they NEVER SLEEP, they are constantly watching. Haha!  

So what changed when they left?  They were not here.  There was so much freedom.  There was so little accountability.  I was left to 'my own devices'.  Now, please don't hear me say that I indulged.  Do hear me say 'I was struggling' to still do what is right. 

I had sat through homeschool conventions, parenting seminars, podcasts, etc on how to 'prepare' my young adult not be a part of that 'exodus' of young people...what I wasn't expecting was how I would have to face the same questions/challenges of how to handle 'being left to my own devices'.  I had to face the reality of whose relationship was my spiritual walk with and who was it for?  

As a fairly new empty nest mom, may I offer some unsolicited advice?

Your job as wife and mom is an important job. 

But your walk with the Savior is more.  

It has to be a pursuit, for yourself, of the God who created you for Himself. 

At the onset of becoming an empty nester-not understanding how or why I would need this scripture, the Lord was good to remind me of his Word: 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it."
1 Cor 10:13