Flowing yards of white silk charmeuse drape over the wardrobe in my closet. Carefully cut and hand-stitched to fit my daughter on her wedding day.

Days of chasing chickens, wheelbarrow races, and dribbling the basketball under the moon, will not be seen out this window of mine any more.

She dances with her dad and his heart is pressed firmly against his chest. His forever kisses at bedtime will not be his any more.

This girl. She wins the heart of everyone she knows. And now it is time for her father and I to give that heart away.

The late night worries when we could hear footsteps on the roof. Her retreat with God under the blanket of stars in this country sky, will now bear an empty invitation to the next daughter that seeks a place to think life through.

Those steps that bring us to change, seem as if they come as easy as we take another breath. In and out. Day after day. Our daughters grow. We all know this day may come, and we are taught to embrace every shiny moment. The album plays over in our mind as we wonder if we have taught our daughters enough. Circled their lives in prayer - enough. Showed them Jesus - enough. And the day is here and we realize that Jesus has to be enough. For that is all we will need in this new season.

I want to pray over every shiny bead and pearl sewn into an intricate pattern down the bodice of this flowing dress that will usher her into womanhood. Each stitch reminds me of every day she has breathed life.

Many hours I have breathed prayers for this little girl to grow in wisdom and grace.

I will not stop now. Even more, she needs me now, just like this - in prayer.

Oh, friends, how do we embrace every moment as our daughters grow into their destiny, and yet learn the delicate pattern of release?

Embrace. Hold onto the moments, and release. At the same time? A season unlike any other.

The very moment we think we are incapable of watching them leave, the Master planner gives us this immeasurable amount of grace and beauty. Even when the threads of our hearts are pulling apart at the seams, the impossible feeling of change, turns into a beautiful revealing of God’s very perfect plan.

Raising daughters are for this very thing called change.

Bringing them into womanhood with joy and beauty, remembering all of the hard work and sacrifice. The tough moments of chiseling away at their character and letting God do His work in their lives.

And although there may have been disagreements, raising of voices, differences of opinions, hours re-folding in the laundry room, scrubbing the tubs together, or re-rinsing the dishes with hot water and not cold….

We are just watching her heart, her steps and her presence move into a beautiful new pattern of life. This is how we should see change. As a new pattern or rhythm. And although change may not feel like it fits, or the steps may seem out of sync, it is just that… a new pattern to follow.

When our daughters return home again, our eyes and heart are able to embrace the change and the work God has done. For it is a beautiful thing to release and embrace…. all at the same time.

A polished cornerstone fit for a palace.

Are you in a new season of raising your daughter? Perhaps you also, are trying out how to embrace the changes, while releasing them into this new time of their life.

We are praying for you. And for our daughters. That they will seek the Lord in earnest, for He can fill the gaps that we will miss.

Press in and on in this season. It may be hard, and it may hurt, but the very root of your pain is your love for her.

Blessings my friend.