I don't know how many of you are familiar with the wonderful work of singer/songwriter Fernando Ortega, who I have listened to since the 1990s. I just learned that as a teenager he lived in Quito, Ecuador, and attended the Alliance Academy. Small world. Fernando's new single called "Every Time You Leave" came out a couple weeks ago. Other than being a beautiful song, it rings true to me because a year ago we left our dear daughter Amelia at college. One day she graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, NY, and the next day we drove her to college.
Now, I realize that most parents
leave their sons and daughters at college. For us it is a bit different in that
we returned to Ecuador a few weeks after dropping her off, which means that we
are not nearby for breaks or visits or vacations. We literally have to leave
Amelia in the hands of our Heavenly Father, who has lovingly cared for her, and
we give thanks every day for His love towards her and our three sons (that
sounds like a TV show).
I was able to see Amelia and
our son Joel, who also lives in the USA, when Mom died in February. It was a
comfort to have them with me for the memorial service, since Marisol and the
boys stayed behind in Ecuador.
The circle of life continues, and
we are grateful for the opportunities that our children have to study in the
USA, but this comes as one of the "bittersweet" pills of missionary
life when we cannot have them close to us as many other parents can.
Please check out "Every
Time You Leave" by Fernando Ortega wherever you listen to music. Fernando wrote the song to express how he feels every time his daughter
goes away. A lovely, sad song.
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