No More Ice Cream Cones

I watched as the school buses went by today, picking up and dropping off kids. I saw the many Facebook status posts where youth and parents alike excitedly talked about their children's first day of school. And my heart hurt a little. Just a little.

I took my youngest, Anton, to college on Saturday, leaving our home an empty nest. I knew there would be adjustments. Funny ones like not having to buy Frank's Red Hot Buffalo sauce or jars of Alfredo sauce. Not having someone to collect garbage Monday nights or unload the dishwasher. Not ever having to hear SpongeBob on the TV. Or walking into Anton's room, seeing the mess, sighing and just walking back out. But I miss Anton's wit, laughter, smile and company. It's very quiet around here. So when the school buses went by, it was just a reminder of his absence. And with my daughter 19 hours away in Rhode Island, the space just feels emptier.

I had a conversation with God today telling Him how much I missed my kids. How I hoped Brad and I had done a good job raising them. How we hoped they would make good decisions on their own, make precious friends and serve His Kingdom in some special way. And I lamented about the whole separation thing in the first place, and how I can't wait to have them come home.

That's when the tears came. But not from what I was feeling about my kids, but rather the realization that God feels the same way! He sends His babies down to Earth for a time. He hopes we make good choices, obey His Word, surround ourselves with precious friends and serve His other children. And He misses us! Oh how he misses us! He longs for us to speak with him, as I long for texts, calls and emails. He longs for our visits in worship, like I long for Skype times. And He can't wait for us to come home. How devasted He must be for the ones who abandon Him ... no calls, no visits and no desire to come home. Oh, how His heart must ache for those. Made me want to reach out all the more to His children to be sure they knew about the Father who loves them so much.

On the first and last days of school, I always bought my children an ice cream cone. This is the first time in 15 years I won't be buying cones. I wonder if the day I enter Paradise, Jesus will meet me at the gate with an ice cream cone? While I hope it's chocolate, I'm really not sure I care ... I'll be home.