My boy leaves today to begin his sophomore year at Ole Miss; and today he will leave behind a mom and dad along with two adoring brothers (at times) and a little Maltipoo, Sallie!  I hate goodbyes; but I love hellos. There’s just something rather anxiety provoking about the goodbyes. It’s the “what-lies-ahead.” It’s the “not-going-with.” It’s the letting go and trusting him to grow. It’s the not needing me so much anymore. It’s the grieving of not having him home with whom to laugh, to be, and to engage. It’s just a part of our family leaves today and with the departure  comes the realization, that change is here. It is not around the corner but right here.

The other two have begun their school years too: one of starting high school while the other is winding down his high school experience.  Oh, I truly miss those days which seemed to never end when I was crawling into bed at night and just hoping the three would sleep a little longer in the morning. The messes to clean. The closets to organize yet again. The fighting and the super power pretending. The countless stitches(I think, the grand total is 10 for all!) The broken bones. The driving and taxiing them to another venue at another inopportune time….CHANGE IS HERE ONCE AGAIN.

We only had a few weeks with this one; but we were grateful for the time! One thing this mom of three boys is learning is that they do grow up fast. I never really believed it. My boy came home from the hospital with a bobble head that I had to sit beside just to hold up; and today he leaves with such a great head on his shoulders. One that longs to please and to show Christ’s love to a hurting world. One that loves to be in community with others and to serve with passion. One that longs to be a difference maker.

There’s an abundance of words to say and to communicate to our kids as they depart the nest once again. There’s the wisdom in the basics: Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Wait your turn. Wear your seatbelt. Eat right.  Brush your teeth. Don’t text and drive. Get your rest. Leave your cell phone downstairs. Go to church. Stay in the Word. Pray. Be careful. Listen before you speak. Be kind. Wait your turn……

Instead of the all encompassing exhortations, let’s just say to our peeps, “Go and be!” Be who God has called you to be. Be present in your conversations, not on your i-phone. Be there for for others and show up. Be the one to stand up for the lonely and the broken. Be the light in the fraternity house when it is needed. Be the one to speak the truth in love and to care for those around you even if it costs you. Be with Jesus, not just the inside-the-box kind of way, but rather, be with Him as you ride your bike to classes and as you study with your friends. Be with Him on your dates and be with Him in prayer. IN THE BEING, YOU BECOME THE DIFFERENCE MAKER.

BOYS, HEED SOME OF THE WORDS FROM THE  fabulous song by Need to Breathe:

“Yeah, isn’t it amazing how a man can find himself alone
Call into the darkness for an answer that he’s never known
Yeah, isn’t it amazing how God can take a broken man
Yeah, let him find a fortune, let him ruin it with his own two hands

And he climbs on up the hill on the rock on which he stands
He looks back at the crowd
He looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker

Oh, I am the difference maker
Oh, I am the only one who speaks to him
I am the friendliest of friends of God

I am on the fence about nearly everything I’ve seen
And I have felt the fire be put out by too much gasoline
And we’re all strangers passing through a place and time afternoon
Life is but a vision in a window that we’re peeking through

A helpless conversation with a man who says he cares a lot
It’s a passive confrontation about who might throw a punch or not
We are all transgressors, we’re all sinners, we’re all astronauts
So if you’re beating death then raise your hand but shut up if you’re not

‘Cause I am the difference maker
Oh, I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of God

I am the difference maker
Oh, I am the only one that speaks to him
And I am the friendliest of friends of God”
NATHANIEL RINEHART, WILLIAM RINEHART

FRIENDS,  LET’S ALL STAKE OUR LIVES ON BEING DIFFERENCE MAKERS. It may just be helping the old man stand up at Office Max. It may just be a hug or a smile delivered to a hurting waiter. It may be speaking to hundreds or just one. It may be going overseas, or it may be supporting the kingdom’s work by your financial  gifts.

For all of us this day:

LORD, WOULD YOU JUST USE US, EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT TO USE US? GRANT US EYES TO SEE THE HURTING WITH YOUR EYES. GIVE US EARS TO LISTEN WITH YOUR EARS. EXPAND OUR HEARTS TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE OF KINGDOM BUILDING EXACTLY WHERE YOU HAVE PLACED US.