Alone 

Every month Martín’s parents took a trip to see Grandma and then came home on the same train the next day. One day the child said to his parents “I'm already grown up. Can I go to my grandma's alone?"
 
After a brief discussion, his parents accepted. They stood with him as he waited for the train to exit. They said goodbye to their son and gave him some tips through the window. Martin responded “I know. I've been told this more than a thousand times."
 
As the train was about to leave, his father murmured in his ear “Son if you feel bad or insecure, this is for you!" And he put something in his pocket.
 
Now Martin was alone, sitting on the train as he had wanted, without his parents for the first time. He was admiring the landscape out the window. Around him some strangers pushed themselves in. They made a lot of noise. They got in and out of the train car. The conductor made some comments about him being alone. One person looked at him with eyes of sadness.
 
Martin was feeling more uneasy with every minute that passed. And now he was scared. He felt cornered and alone. He put his head down, and with tears in his eyes, he remembered his dad had put something in his pocket. Trembling, he searched for what his father had given him. Upon finding the piece of paper he read it: “Son, I'm in the last carriage on the train!"
 
That's how life is, we must let our kids go. We, like them in our life pilgrimage move onto new and unfamiliar territory with hidden challenges and dangers, but even as adults we are sometimes uneasy and scared. During these challenging times we need to remember the message our heavenly father leaves with us: 
 
The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore (Psalm 121:7,8)

Photo by Tomek Baginski on Unsplash