When it’s time for them to leave 

“As an eagle stirs up its nest…so the Lord…led him.” Deuteronomy 32:11-12 NKJV 

Eagles learn to fly by being pushed out of their nest. Left to themselves, they would never leave the comfort of home. But neither would they discover and fulfill their unique destiny as fliers. The same principle applies to your children. It’s true that most teenagers can’t wait to get out of the house, but there are also some who need to be pushed. How can you get your grown children to move on when the time has come? Sometimes the problem is not that you as a parent withhold independence but that your children don’t want to accept it. They have no desire to grow up, and why should they? The nest is just too cozy! Food is cooked. Clothes are washed, and bills are paid. They feel no motivation to face the harsh world of reality, and they have resolved not to budge. Some even won’t get a job. It’s hard to dislodge homebound sons or daughters. They’re like furry, little puppies who lie around the back door waiting for a bowl of warm milk. But letting them stay, especially if they’re avoiding career goals, is cultivating irresponsibility and dependency. That’s not loving them, even though you may feel like it is. A time comes when you must gently but candidly hand the reins over to your children and force them to stand on their own two feet to live life on life’s terms. In some cases, you might even have to pack their bags. But if you love them and want them to fulfill their God-given destiny, you have no other choice.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024