Catch and Release

Recently, my life has had a running theme of “Catch and Release.” A few years back, my husband and I took our kids fishing in a place that promised us glorious trout to no end. My logical husband said that we needed to let the fish go after catching them though because he knew that my daughter and I would not eat them because we detest fish. Knowing full well that I had no intention on eating these trout, I refused to let them go. I wanted to keep them, because I caught them. They were mine! I spent precious hours of my time luring these boogers in and I am not about to put them back into that lake.

The poor fish went home with us, only to see the inside of a freezer bag for all eternity.

Meanwhile, my extremely insightful nine-year-old daughter and I were talking this morning. We were reminded of this fishing crisis because she has a friend who had to give her dog to someone else who had a more fitting piece of land. This piece of land was one where the dog could roam freely, swim in ponds and overall have a happier life instead of being caged up. My daughter said that she would cry every day if she had to do this with one of her animals.

It was then that I realized she is indeed my daughter.

I reminded her of the fishing adventure that we went on and how the fish ended up in our freezer and were pretty much wasted because we would not release them. She then told me that someday I would have to release her when she goes to college. I immediately ducked my head in the sand.

“Catch and Release” is something that each of must do to continue moving on in life. Particularly, I have a hard time letting go of people, but my letting go extends past that onto releasing thoughts, thought patterns and even my past. I love people so deeply that I cannot seem to pass them off to others that might have more help to offer. My thoughts are so apart of me that I cannot see any other way to do things. If I think I have to go to “this restaurant” that is where we are going. If you have a psychology background, please call me in a prescription right now.

We see that our amazing God gives us an example that we can follow with His own precious son. He releases Him for our greater good. God the Father gives to us His son, Jesus, so that we can live. This life that He offers is one of freedom. We can roam freely. We do not have to be caged up or put in a freezer bag for all eternity. We can have life abundantly.

John 3:15-17 (New International Version, ©2011)

15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[a]

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

God, I am begging you to help me release all of the people in my life that I am holding on to (my kids, my husband, my friends and those who I bring under my wing for a time). Help me to release them from the death grip and help me to want what you want for these people. Help me to love them deeply, but then in the end allow them to move onto other people that will help them, hold them and encourage their faith. Even when my kids get to high school and some young hip girl wants to disciple my daughter and tell her things that I have been telling her for years and my daughter finally listens, help me to release her to be taught by another person. (no matter how difficult it is)

I need your help, Lord because this is not my natural bent to love like this. I trust you to do this for me. I need you.