Of Fledglings and Arrows…

This week marked an important milestone for our family; we let our first arrow fly. Our culture usually speaks in terms of fledglings “leaving the nest”. Though in a natural sense this picture is valid, I wonder if the emphasis is misplaced. The fledgling analogy, when taken in a negative sense, focuses on what the parents have lost; the sweet little child that is no longer at home to cuddle, who no longer needs them in the same capacity. Taken in a positive light, it embraces the “circle of life” if you will, and celebrates the independence of the young person and tells them to stretch their wings and fly wherever their heart leads them. As believers, we have a different lens to look through. In scripture we are compared to little birds, but never in the context of independence. Quite to the contrary, we’re told to notice how the birds are dependent on the Father to feed them, and then told not to worry, since He cares much more for us. None of us is truly independent. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this step isn’t all about me as a parent and how my role is changing, though that is true. It isn’t even all about our daughter and the adventures in store for her, though they will be many. It’s about something even higher than either of these. More than anything, we want to watch her fly; not as a bird trying to find it’s own way in the world, but as an arrow shot by a warrior. In Psalm 127, the Spirit prompts David to say, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” Even as my mother-heart twangs at the launching, I wouldn’t choose a different path. We knew from the beginning that these kids wouldn’t be little forever; we knew we didn’t want them to be. We wanted them to grow: mentally, physically, spiritually. We wanted them to grow to a point of maturity where they could understand their need of the Savior, follow Him with their whole hearts, and through His power, bring light and truth and beauty into a dark and dying world. We weren’t given children as life-long pets; we were given children so that we could raise up servants for the King; warriors who by God’s infinite grace might storm the gates of hell. God’s kingdom is strange sometimes. He uses little things, weak things even, to confound the strong. He uses sweet young girls who have learned how to pray. He uses girls who have learned how to give of themselves for the sake of others. He uses girls who love Him more than they fear stepping into the unknown. So even though I may blink back a few tears, I lift my face to the end goal and praise God as I watch this arrow fly, because it flies for Him.