No Loitering

Walking around on a high school campus, I noticed “no loitering” signs everywhere! I mean, every so many feet, this was painted on the ground. That means there must be a lot of loitering and these frequent reminders are needed!

I’m not one to loiter, but then seeing THIS sign, this time, made me laugh out loud because in fact, I was loitering! And this memo was for me!

You see, I had just dropped off my elementary school daughter with over 600 mostly middle and high school students at a media island-wide event. I wasn’t used to leaving her someplace big and new in the care of other adults for a whole day to which she responded, “You drop me off at school for 8 hours a day mom. What’s the difference?”

That girl is growing up fast and was super excited to be mixed in with the big kids!

I wasn’t.

I was loitering!

I stood around for a bit wondering to myself if I could be part of her experience. I started processing this new feeling and needed a moment before I could leave and as I stood, there, I saw this reminder.

The definition of loitering is standing around or waiting idly without apparent purpose. That’s exactly what it looked like I was doing. A mom on a high school campus. Frozen in the hallway just standing there trying to process how fast this was all happening and my heart wishing I could slow down time.

It was as if God was reminding me that it was okay and I needed to leave. That my purpose as her mom was not to hold on forever, but to help her grow and follow His plans for her.

Is there someone God is telling you to let go of? To stop hanging around and reminding you that there’s “no loitering” allowed?

Let’s find peace by piece when we see these signs that God is trying to remind us to let go and to trust in Him.

“Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” -Proverbs 19:21