Empty Nesting

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025
written by Kelly McGinn

Dropping Jackson off at the University of Arizona for his freshman year was one of the most emotional experiences of our lives. Last week, our drive to Tucson was filled with excitement, nerves, pride - and a sense of bittersweet finality. As parents, we spend years preparing our children for this moment, but nothing truly prepares us for the reality of letting go. What made it even more poignant was knowing that this wasn’t just about Jackson starting college - it was about us entering a new season. With Helena beginning her senior year at Ole Miss, we are now officially empty nesters. 

But God knew we needed reassurance. On the entire drive to Tucson, we saw rainbows. One after another, stretching across the sky, each one felt like a quiet promise: I am with you. I am with him. It was as if God painted reminders in the sky to tell us that while change is hard, his presence never changes. Every rainbow brought tears to my eyes, but also peace to my heart.

There’s a unique ache that comes with this stage of parenting. You’re thrilled for your children, proud of who they’re becoming, and yet there’s grief in the goodbye. The house feels quieter… a lot quieter.  The routines are different. You find yourself reaching for faith in a new way. But that’s the beauty of it, too - God doesn’t just carry our kids into their future, he carries us into ours.

As we hugged Jackson goodbye, I saw the mixture of joy and nerves in his eyes - and I saw God's faithfulness in ours. We drove away with full hearts, grateful for the years behind us and hopeful for what’s ahead. Trusting God with your children means trusting that he loves them even more than you do, and that his plans for them are good.

The rainbows weren’t just for Jackson. They were for us, too. A reminder that God goes before, behind, and beside us all - even into this new, unfamiliar chapter of empty nesting.