Oh how I dreamed of one day going away—for the day that freedom would finally ring in my life and all the choices to make were alone mine. I longed for the day I would be able to choose to go get coffee at eleven o’clock in the evening if I wished. I wished for that day when I could live and thrive on a college campus.

And then that day came.

It’s a wonderful thing, leaving the nest—it’s a natural thing. I value it and everything that I’ve learned from my almost year and a half of being away at university.

Yet something has hit me. While I was at home—while I was under the direct care of my parents—I was blessed beyond measure. As the saying goes: “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” Granted, my parents always welcome me back home with open, loving arms. They will be around to call me, cook food for me, pray for me—I’ll have that as long as they live.

But things aren’t ever going to be the same, and that thought sort of saddens me. I won’t be around my brothers as they traverse the ups and downs of their lives. I won’t be around my parents as they move from place to place. I won’t be around. I don’t even know where I’ll be.

So to those of you who haven’t yet flown the coop, treasure your time with your family. Thank them. Spend your hours doing what they love. Cook with them and for them. Do chores and dishes and clean your room without your parents asking. Play games with your siblings and speak truth and life and love and encouragement into them. Remind them every day of how much you love them, and make sure you hug them!

You might not realize it now, but you and they will be so utterly thankful for your intentionality when the time for you to fly does arrive. I regret not being more grateful and intentional with my family while I lived with them. The time you have with them is precious and it isn’t coming back, so make the most of it, dear one!