Today, I stood in the driveway and watched my daughter drive off—off to begin her own journey in this wide, uncertain world. My heart was full of pride, but as soon as she turned the corner, the tears came. I don’t softly cry, the tears don’t silently fall. I stood and sobbed, not out of fear, but out of hope—hope that she would claim her own faith, that the values I poured into her life would grow strong roots beneath her feet.
In that quiet ache, I Remembered the Lost Sheep the words of Jesus:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
— Luke 15:4 (NIV)
This parable has always moved me, but today it holds a new weight. It’s not just a story about a wandering sheep. It’s about a Shepherd whose love is personal, active, and unwavering. A Shepherd who doesn’t just notice when one has strayed, but goes out and searches until that one is safe again.
My daughter may be stepping out of the reach of my arms, but she is never out of the reach of God’s.
As mothers, we long to guide every step, shield from every storm, answer every hard question. But there comes a time when love must look like release. In that moment, we surrender not to fear, but to faith—a faith that knows the Shepherd watches, walks beside, and will carry her if needed.
The moral of the lost sheep is not that we all get it right. It’s that even when we don’t, we are still worth finding.
So I’ll hold onto this truth:
She is not lost.
She is seen.
She is loved.
She is held—by the same Shepherd who once found me.
excellent message for us as parents. My last child just left home last Friday and so I feel this keenly. I know the Good shepherd is with her every step away from me. Thank you, Katie
Sweet thought about children leaving the nest. We Mom’s go through it with every chick. Love you! God is good! All the time!
Beautifully put. I can relate with my daughter moving out of state for college, to a place with no family or friends. Then later she went to South Korea and has returned temporarily. I’ve had to put her in God’s hands repeatedly. It has been a journey.