Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My Daughter, a Missionary

"I'm going on a mission,"
She said
And I had something of a
'Father of the Bride' moment.
How swiftly the time
Has gone.

I didn't worry too much
About her announcement.
She is young and cute
And sweet and vivacious.
I thought
Surely she would be
Snatched up
By some handsome prince
And carried off
Into the sunset.

I've seen it all before
Even after the call--
The girl falls in love
And goes to the altar
Instead of
The MTC.

Yet, here we are
Just a week away
From our drive to Provo
Where we will pull up to the curb
In front of
The MTC.

She will be a good missionary.
I wish I
Could go with her,
Not because
I will miss her,
(Though I will)
And not because
She needs me
(She does not).

I want to go
Because I have gone.
I was once
Where she is now.
I know a little
Of the journey she will take,
And of the joy,
Oh, the joy,
That makes it all
More than worth it.

But, I had my turn
And I'm on the other side
Of the fence now.
I'll stay home.
I'll write letters.
I'll pray every day
For her success.
That will be my mission
This time around.

Some future day,
I may get
A second chance
With my best companion.
And together
We will relive
The joy.

6 comments:

  1. Congrats on your dtr going on a mission.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful. Very touching. Good luck to your daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful. Heart wrenching, but it'll be good. Oh, the happy/sad cries.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for sharing your experience - Motherhood is all about holding on and letting go - isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful way to express your excitement about your daughter's mission! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you all for your kind comments. Yes, motherhood is all about holding on and letting go, and sometimes it's hard to know which to do.

    ReplyDelete