As you face the reality of sending your last baby to face the world on his own, your heart will skip a beat, recognizing that void which will soon be a part of your life. The connection that binds all children to their mother is not cut to set him adrift, but stretched and lengthened to continue to guide and direct. All the Primary songs and talks you helped prepare, the teaching moments in the home, and the quiet prayers you heard him speak all come to fruition in the mind's eye, for he is now a man with responsibilities and obligations that the Lord has given him. You taught him compassion, judgement and mercy; you shared your testimony with him while he took all the tools you gave him to build his own, and he learned to be a steward over small things as you guided him to be cautious with his resources. It is not apron-strings that connect you; but heart-strings that will stretch over time and distance until you are together again.
You are sharing your precious child with the world as he shares the gospel of love, the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the precious truths that will enrich the lives of those he will teach. All lives will be enriched when stories of faith, testimonies of Jesus Christ, and answers to personal prayer brings joy to those who accept the truths of the gospel. And they will be blessed because you are his mom; people will recognized that everything your son is, is because you taught him when he was a child.
May God bless him in his missionary service; may God bless you for preparing your son to represent His Son, Jesus Christ. I send you my heart and prayers for his successful mission and his honorable return.
