On Wednesday, we took our third son to the LDS Missionary Training Center and said goodbye for two years. He is going on an LDS mission to the Ukraine, speaking Russian, and helping the people there learn about Christ. On Tuesday night, our church leaders set him apart as a missionary for our church--another great moment for our family. It feels like we've had a lot of those lately.
I have to admit, this is the hardest kind of goodbye I've had to do, even though this is exactly what I want my son to be doing. My husband said, "It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't cry every time!" I didn't cry before that moment and I didn't spend the rest of the day crying either. It was just that moment where the emotions punch you right in the gut and you can't keep back those tears.
Maybe it's because I feel like I've spent the first almost-19 years of his life preparing for this day. And maybe it's because I don't always feel "loving" feelings towards my children, especially when I'm trying to get them to do what they are supposed to. But that farewell moment is when I realize how much I do love them and how much I've put into helping them become the person they need to be.
I'm sure he'll be a great missionary! We'll write him lots of emails and letters and look forward to that happy day when he gets home. His little sister came home and wrote him a letter.
I have to admit, this is the hardest kind of goodbye I've had to do, even though this is exactly what I want my son to be doing. My husband said, "It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't cry every time!" I didn't cry before that moment and I didn't spend the rest of the day crying either. It was just that moment where the emotions punch you right in the gut and you can't keep back those tears.
Maybe it's because I feel like I've spent the first almost-19 years of his life preparing for this day. And maybe it's because I don't always feel "loving" feelings towards my children, especially when I'm trying to get them to do what they are supposed to. But that farewell moment is when I realize how much I do love them and how much I've put into helping them become the person they need to be.
I'm sure he'll be a great missionary! We'll write him lots of emails and letters and look forward to that happy day when he gets home. His little sister came home and wrote him a letter.
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