When the doctor placed my firstborn in my arms, I knew my life would never be the same. I stared into the sweet eyes of this baby boy, and I felt like I was staring into the eyes of an angel. The pure innocence was breathtaking. This baby that I had carried inside of me was now in my arms, and I knew I would do everything I could to protect him.

I felt that same exact feeling when our second son was born, and then our daughter. It’s a feeling that is so hard to put into words.

Everyone who sees you with your new baby has so much to share with you. The younger parents share their own experiences of birth, nursing, feeding, changing diapers, sleepless nights. The older generation shares how fast it goes by. You don’t realize how important those conversations are until your children are growing older.

Our oldest turns 15 years old in a few weeks. I would be lying if I said it’s easy watching him grow up. There’s something different about watching our baby boy turn into a young man. His voice has grown deeper, and he’s taller than me now. He has such a big heart and a love for God that makes me so proud.

I imagine this is how Mary felt when she held Jesus for the first time. I’m sure it was bittersweet watching Jesus grow into a young man, but, at some point, she knew she had to fully trust God to watch over Him. She had to let Him go. Mary had to find that peace that only God could provide and allow Him to use Jesus for His glory. I have no doubt she was one proud mother. I also have no doubt that she had moments when it was incredibly hard to let Him go.

As all three of our children are growing and getting older, No. 58 in the Songs of Zion, “My Place,” keeps coming to my mind.

“I’m growing, mother, I think I found the answer,
I’m wiser, father, my eyes can finally see.
Without God, there is no joy in living.
Oh, wondrous grace! God found my place for me.”

I pray our children not only grow in the truth but live in the truth. I pray that they will always know that their life was “bought, the price was dear…I heard an answer ringing clear; Your life was bought, the price was dear.”

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.