Lighten up can mean different things like: not taking life so
seriously or getting rid of burdens that don’t need to be carried on your
own shoulders. As a parent, many of us feel that we are responsible for our child or grandchild’s happiness and progress in life. That’s a heavy burden to
carry and can sidetrack you from focusing on your own growth and development
after your children become adults. There comes a time of letting go after you’ve done your best
to prepare your progeny for life’s trials and responsibilities. You don’t
reject your adult son or daughter, but give them encouragement and emotional
support while resisting the temptation to jump in and rescue them.
Too
many parents try to live through our adult offspring rather than taking the
time to develop our own interests, friends and talents. Being a cheerleader for
them is important, but it’s not necessary to get on the field and play their
game. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in the bible says… To everything there is a season,
a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a
time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a
time to mourn, and a time to dance; A
time to cast away stones, and a time
to gather stones together; a time to
embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.