In a few short days, we will be driving our oldest to Valparaiso, Indiana for his first year of college. It seems like so much will change— for us and for him. For us, there’s an empty bedroom—a void in the family. Less noise. Less laundry. Less kids. And for our son? A bedroom with a stranger in it. More noise. More laundry. More kids.

As you can imagine, a lot of thoughts and emotions are swirling around for mom and dad as that first child leaves the nest and starts to go out on his own. There’s anticipation and dread, pride and sadness, hope and worry, excitement and nervousness, happiness and even a little grieving. The experts say that this is normal — and it is— especially as I remember that this child that I love so very much and who has been close by for 18 years will now be over 300 miles away.

So what is a parent to do? Pray, for sure! And give some good parental advice. There has been a lot of advice we have shared over the last number of months with our son. Not sure that it’s all been heard or listened to, but we have given that advice anyway: Study hard. Be physically active. Go to church. Remember why you’re going to college (by the way, it’s to learn and get a degree!). Eat a well-balanced diet. Find some great friends. Enjoy learning from some wise teachers. Don’t be a stranger to the library. Get some sleep. Challenge yourself. Call home (or at least text) once in a while. Have fun — but not too much fun!

But maybe the greatest advice I can give my son is this: Go with God. It is advice that my father shared with me. It is advice that we have shared with our children in the past. And now, especially as our son heads to college, those words will be shared again. Go with God! He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God.

Perhaps that’s good advice for all of us, wherever we are going. Whether we are going to work or to school or to the doctor’s office or to the grocery store. Go with God! Whatever we are going through — whether we are going through a joy or a sickness or a grief or a trial. Go with God! Whatever time in life we find ourselves in — whether we are retired or becoming parents or nearing life’s end or sending a kid off to college. Go with God!

His promise is that He goes with you, you know. He will lead. He will bless. He will care. He will guard and protect. Go with Him. Go with God, Teddy! Go with God, Chapel of the Cross!

“Lo, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age…”