Let Her Go

I have been listening to the song Let Her Go quite a bit lately.  The lyrics are touching and the melody is slow and easy to listen to.  I do not know the group's intention when they wrote or performed this song.  It could be a loss of love or regrets in life.

I listen to this song, however, and believe  that it speaks to the heart of being a parent.  I think that from the moment we become parents we are constantly letting go.  We let go of their hands as they start to walk.  We hug them goodbye on the first day of school.  We watch as they go to their first movie with friends or drive away for the first time.

I listen to friends talk of what they believe the ultimate letting go is - sending a child off to college.  I know that it is such a sad time for most, but I just can't relate.  I think that every time we let a child go we encourage them to be who they want to be. Parents are the support system and letting go tells a child that they are loved and believed in.

To me there is a greater meaning to letting go than just watching a child start a life outside of our home.  That is what this song has made me think of lately.  It is the parent that has to "Let Her Go" forever.   I cannot imagine the loss of a child and this song makes me remember that my Mom, my neighbor and my cousin  all let their children go home to God.   So when I hear these lyrics, I say a little prayer for those mothers whose lives were changed forever, and I appreciate even more that letting go of the Heinisch children for Doug and I just means "I'll see you soon."

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why

'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go

And you let her go