Letting Go

Two weeks ago, Rachel (my daughter) said she would have her ears pierced right after her last day of exam. I knew, it's time to "let go".

Two years ago, when she asked if she could have her ears pierced, I said this, "If God wanted you to wear earrings, you would have been born with holes in your ears." And I counted myself "glorious" to say such wise and godly words.

A year later, she asked again. This time I reasoned, "Why don't you do it after your secondary school days. You can't wear earrings to school after all." I was buying time.

I was not an adventurous teenager. The only impetuous thing I'd ever done was probably going to a movie without dad's approval. I still remember how mad dad was. Dad was the manager of a cinema. We enjoyed many movies during the weekend. However, every movie must be screened by dad and approved by him. I could not remember what movie I watched without his approval. That was the protected environment that I grew up.

Yesterday, we went island hopping in Kota Kinabalu. I am really much more adventurous now than when I was a teenager, or even just a year ago. Look at how Chris (son) caught me in such sunny smile!

When the children said they wanted parasailing, I did not say "no, no". And honestly, I did not even know what was parasailing!

I am learning to Let Go!


I pondered on these thoughts when Rachel and Christopher were taking that adventures -

Every daughter must have her adventures, she needs to create her own story to become her own person. No matter how much mothers, anxious for their daughter's safety or success, insists that they "go straight" to their destinations, daughters must always take their own circuitous route, and mothers can only watch and suffer, or watch or rejoice. - Josephine Evetts

I watched and rejoice - I did.