With tears in my eyes, I read this poem my father sent in response to a request for a guest post on this blog. I hope that his perspective will encourage and challenge you today as you consider “letting go” for the sake of the gospel.

Missionary Daughter

As a newborn I dedicated her,
To the Lord on a Sunday morn.
Not knowing years later,
How much my heart would be torn.
Admiring her commitment,
But in my frailty knowing fear.
Anguishing in the thought
Of her absence year by year.

God has called her to greater things,
Than I could ever know.
And He calls on me to loosen my grip
An earthly father letting go.
Off to a land far away,
His love with the masses to share.
Her beautiful voice will sing of His grace
And how the Savior cares.

I embrace her mission, her calling.
Praying my heart to be strong.
As my little girl proclaims her faith,
In word, deed and song.
As my fingers begin to loosen,
Releasing her to a foreign land.
I know that as I let her go,
She is embraced in the Masters hand.

by Jeff Smith
Father of Amber (Smith) Taube
Missionary to India

Psalm 127:3-5: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Arrows are only effective if you let them go. I’m so thankful that my parents have given control over my life to the Lord so that I can follow His will to carry the gospel to places where it has not been heard. Though I often feel guilty taking their grand baby out of their life and distancing myself so far from home, it is a comfort to know that my parents believe in what God has us doing and trust in Him to safely guard us and provide for our every need as we seek to serve Him abroad. I am thankful I am a child of Jeff and Denise Smith who raised me to love and serve the Lord, and I am even more grateful to be a child of the King who holds my family, the US, India, and all people of all nations in those Almighty Hands.

I love you, Dad. Thank you for loving and supporting me throughout my life, even when its hard to do (yes, I know it’s hard to love me sometimes!). We couldn’t do what we are doing without your and mom’s support as well as that of my in-laws, Jim and Sue Taube who have three children on or on their way to the mission field.

I hope to raise the children God blesses me with with the same love for the love for the Lord, heart for the world, and surrender to His will. And I pray that as hard as I know it will be, He will give me the strength to let go.