Colombian Christian Mission

THE COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION, INC.
Dale and Jeanie Meade, Missionaries
Preaching Christ from the Amazon Jungle, through the Andes Mountains, to the Caribbean Coastal Regions Colombia, South America
Volume 20, Issue 5 May, 1992

1992
The Senior Class
of
Rittman High School
announces its
Graduation Exercises
Sunday afternoon, June seventh
Nineteen hundred ninety-to
two-thirty o'clock
Rittman Football Stadium

(PHOTO)

Wendy Mae Meade

LETTING GO

It is time now to let go. Somehow it just does not seem possible. After all it was just a short time ago that she was a tiny infant. I would hold her in my arms and rock her to sleep, pondering the miracle of a new life wrapped up in this gift of God, this tiny baby girl, my first born, my daughter. When she was a little older she squealed with delight every time I returned from a trip. Soon she as a little girl, a toddler. I took her with me as I traveled. I watched over her and cared for her every instant. I would bathe and dress her in the little frills that make little girls so cute. I taught many mothers in Colombia how to care for their children by caring for Wendy in their presence, all the while explaining the reasons for what I was doing. She never complained on the long bus rides. She just jabbered away about what she saw and experienced. Once, upon completing a rather long trip, the driver turned to me and commented that "with a child like that, you wouldn't even need a radio in the car." She could plod diligently along behind me on arduous hikes. Her childish eyes would glisten as we saw monkeys and parrots amidst the lush foliage and brilliant colors of the Amazon jungle. There are many anecdotes that I could share, but I will not bore you with those now. I tried to protect her from every hurt. Her childhood passed in the blink of an eye.
With adolescence, we became even closer. She still traveled with me, though not as often. One furlough she spent an entire month with me as I traveled from church to church and VBS to VBS. We would talk and share things, but mainly just enjoy each others company. With high school, other activities began to take priority. Little by little I realize that she was slipping away from me. Still, she was always there when I returned home, even though a casual "hi, there" had replaced the baby squeals that once greeted me. I taught her to drive, only to realize that with receiving a license that the bonds were further loosened. I was no longer needed to take her places. I still tried to protect her from every hurt and pain. I worried incessantly whenever she drove somewhere. I stayed up every evening until she arrived home safely. Jeanie would laugh at me and remind me that Wendy was growing up and could take care of herself. Jeanie was right of course, but somehow that doesn't seem like much consolation to the ultimate over protective father.
In a few days, Wendy will graduate form high school. Soon after that, she will turn eighteen. We plan a family vacation this summer. But the fun will be tempered by the fact that it will be our last as a family. When we return from the North American Christian Convention in July, we will begin to pack. Jeanie, Susy, Alex, and I will be packing for our return to Colombia. Wendy will be packing for College. She plans to attend Cincinnati Bible College this fall and major in missions. She speaks about returning to Latin American as a missionary some day. She has paid me the highest tribute a child could every give a parent: that of wanting to follow in his or her footsteps. Right now, somehow that is not very important. It seems to matter little. I am too overwhelmed by the fact that Wendy is staying here in the United States and I will be so far away in South America. For the first time, I won't be around to shelter and protect her. Worse than that, is the realization that she no longer needs and probably doesn't even want me to do that any longer. In spite of how difficult that is going to be for the ultimate overprotective father, it is time for me to let go.
That will undoubtedly mean a little regret, some residual worry, and a lot of tears. It will also mean learning to trust God even more. Somehow, all of these years I convinced myself that I was caring for and protecting Wendy. Yet somehow, I knew that all of that was really God's doings. It must admit that I had a lot of fun while doing it. Now I will somehow have to convince myself that God can do it all without me. So goodbye Wendy. We all wish you the best in college. I love you and will miss you. You have become a lovely young woman. You have given me every reason to have confidence in you. But time has gone by. Albeit far too quickly, and now it is time to let go. I will just have to buy a box of tissues so that I can see through the tears while I travel alone . . and I will have to check out the car radio to see if it works.