Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday. To Bekah, not to me. Our daughter just turned 15 yesterday. Rather than feeling "old" by thinking about this milestone, it really provided me with two different emotions:
One emotion is gratitute.
I remember when she was born. They give children a rating on a scale--I think they call it an Apgard test, or something like that. She was top of the charts. But the day didn't start that way. Dana had a high fever and Bekah was under "stress" (who wasn't that day...) so they went and got her by C-section. I don't think I will ever forget being robed up and waiting to go into the surgical center. At that moment I remember thinking: The kind of car that I drive doesn't matter. The house I live in doesn't matter. The clothes I wear don't matter. Even my job really doesn't matter. At this moment, the only things that matter are Jesus and my wife and child. Simple. And then my dad came in and we prayed together and Bekah began her 15 year journey. Bekah is a good girl and is making good choices. I am grateful.
I am also excited. One year from now, Bekah will be able to drive a car. Not only do we know this will free up our time in driving Nick and Bekah everywhere under the sun, but it will be another step forward in her maturing and taking responsibility. As I look around, I get the idea that most parents dread seeing their children become more independent and not need them as much. Dana and I have always felt the opposite. Our job is to work our way to of a job.
It may be easy to misread that last section and not completely understand what I mean. We enjoy being together as a family--in fact, it is one of our favorite things. But there is a difference between wanting to spend time together and needing to. Our desire is to help equip Nick and Bekah to fear God and become wise in decision making without us--because we have taught them how. It was a long time ago that we came to the conclusion that we would probably not live near our children when they became adults or our grandchildren because of ministry they will be called to by God. And we are okay with that. We've been preparing for that since day one.
So grateful and excited. Not a bad combination. Talk to me next year and let's see if I still feel the same way...
One emotion is gratitute.
I remember when she was born. They give children a rating on a scale--I think they call it an Apgard test, or something like that. She was top of the charts. But the day didn't start that way. Dana had a high fever and Bekah was under "stress" (who wasn't that day...) so they went and got her by C-section. I don't think I will ever forget being robed up and waiting to go into the surgical center. At that moment I remember thinking: The kind of car that I drive doesn't matter. The house I live in doesn't matter. The clothes I wear don't matter. Even my job really doesn't matter. At this moment, the only things that matter are Jesus and my wife and child. Simple. And then my dad came in and we prayed together and Bekah began her 15 year journey. Bekah is a good girl and is making good choices. I am grateful.
I am also excited. One year from now, Bekah will be able to drive a car. Not only do we know this will free up our time in driving Nick and Bekah everywhere under the sun, but it will be another step forward in her maturing and taking responsibility. As I look around, I get the idea that most parents dread seeing their children become more independent and not need them as much. Dana and I have always felt the opposite. Our job is to work our way to of a job.
It may be easy to misread that last section and not completely understand what I mean. We enjoy being together as a family--in fact, it is one of our favorite things. But there is a difference between wanting to spend time together and needing to. Our desire is to help equip Nick and Bekah to fear God and become wise in decision making without us--because we have taught them how. It was a long time ago that we came to the conclusion that we would probably not live near our children when they became adults or our grandchildren because of ministry they will be called to by God. And we are okay with that. We've been preparing for that since day one.
So grateful and excited. Not a bad combination. Talk to me next year and let's see if I still feel the same way...
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home