Letting Go

With two hands, the successful fisherman lifted his catch. Marveling at its beauty one last time, he reaches over the side of the boat and holds it gently in the water as it acclimates to its new surroundings. Suddenly it wiggles, letting him know it’s ready, and, with a mixture of gratitude and regret, he opens his hands, letting the fish swim off, out of sight.

That’s how it feels to be a parent sometimes. Whether driving them to the first day at school, seeing them off at an airport, or walking them down an aisle, our lives are never-ending cycles of such moments. Holding gently for only a moment, we gaze at their beauty and stand in awe. With both gratitude and regret, we reach over and place them in their new surroundings. Wishing we could continue to hold them, or maybe even pull them back into the boat, they wiggle and let us know it’s time. They’re ready. Opening our hands, they swim, which is what they were created to do, and are soon out of sight.

Such experiences are not unique to parents, of course. We all struggle to let go of those we love, and, no matter how often we participate in this sacred rite, it never gets easier. The love that causes our hearts to swell, is the same love that rips them apart. That’s the deal, I suppose. It’s what being a human being is all about, and, when we’re honest and feeling secure, we’d never have it any other way.