It doesn’t seem that long ago that my wife and I were coming home with our first child. We had our oldest son Trey when we were both 24 and I remember that first day home with him was filled with both excitement and fear. I’m responsible for this little human that does nothing by sleep, eat and cry it seems.
Then as the days wore on, a smile here and there from him would light up the day for all of us, making us forget the late nights and constant barrage of diapers. Seeing him slowly become mobile and active was not only exciting but again, still fearful. How could we care for this child that was slowly becoming more independent (not really, he was still just a baby, but it felt like he was growing up so quickly over the first few months)
Years went by and we saw that baby become a young boy, full of his own personality. And again, I had that excitement and fear. Here was a young boy who was soaking in all the information he could in his environment and that was forming his personality. And the fear came back, because I realized he was watching us and learning from us. So I quickly understood that now I was responsibility for raising this young boy to become a young man who was kind and gentle, yet fun loving and strong.
Fast forward a few years and we’ve moved into his teen years. Much of his personality is formed and he has become that individual and we hope we’ve taught him well. The rebellious teenage years kick in and while he was not very much trouble at all, the fear set in that now would I have to go from being his best friend and teacher, to being more of an enforcer of rules meant to keep him safe and from making stupid decision that would affect the rest of his life. Again, I didn’t have too much to worry about, I must have done my job well enough during the younger years, because Trey was turning into a respectable, hard-working, loving and funny young man.
No here we are today…this first-born of ours is 22 and a completely independent young man. He is hard-working and fun-loving. He respects and loves us as parents and he has come back to being one of my best-friends. He loves and will do anything for his family, his brothers and sister, his grandparents and extended family can always count on him to be there when we need him.
And now, he is beginning that journey into the next phase of his life, one that seems not that long ago for myself, where he got down on a knee and asked for his girls hand in marriage. He has found a fine young lady, one that cares for my son as fiercely as we do. One that has become part of our family as much as if she were truly one of our own. I couldn’t be prouder of them as they begin this journey.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24
We’ve done what we can, but I think we’ve done OK as my father did with me. He will make a great husband and someday a great father. And I hope that in 20 years or so, he can reflect back on his life and his children as I am today and see that the love of our children never fades no matter how old we and they get.
I would love to have those days back when he was young and all he wanted to do was throw a ball with me out in the yard. Those are some of the memories I cherish most with him. But I can’t wait to see where life takes him as I know he will go far in life, much farther than I could have ever imagined when we brought him home that first day.
Exceptional Christian 