Letting Go & Holding On

January 17, 1997

When you were just an infant
	You used to hold my hand.
How tightly you would squeeze it
	As you tried to walk or stand

But then as you grew older
	You learned how to let go
And sometimes run a head of me
	Because I walked too slow.
But I was glad to let you do it
	For it was good for you
There were so many things
	That you must learn and do.

But when winter came, as it does,
	With all of its ice and snow
When you found walking hard
	Then with your cheeks aglow
You would reach up to me
	For me to take your hand
And I would never scold you
	For I could understand.

So it is with our Heavenly Father
	While we walk here below
He does not morn the fact that we
	Have His hand "let go"
When we walk, it seems, alone
	Or we run with all our might,
When in our "play" we find
	That God is out of sight.

And then we do not notice as
	The day turns into night
Until in the awful darkness
	We look for some small light.

And in our pain and heartache
	We look around for His hand
We wonder if He will resent us
	Or if He will understand.

But let me tell you, son,
	Hešs better than your dad!
And I know that you would find
	That I am very glad
To reach down to take your hand
	To help you make it through.
Now God is more of a father
	Than either me or you

So quickly run to Him now
	And tell Him of your pain
How much you need His help
	(Now let me make it plain)
He will fold you to His bosom
	As I would like to do.
He will walk beside you
	Until youšve made it through.

So in the darkness of this night
	When we canšt understand
We can still reach out to Him
	And He will take our hand.
He'll not ask us where we've been
	Nor even what we've done
He'll just say "Welcome Home,
	My child,My friend,My son!"

by Pastor Van