My guys are growing up. I tucked the covers gently around my little blonde boy with his brand new pair of boots and a kiss to blink and see him six feet tall with sparkling eyes and a sweet, funny personality. Although I knew he'd grow up someday, I never dreamed it would be now. I never dreamed there would be so many memories made, so many tears shed, so much laughter...and love.
What would I tell a new parent?
Give him to God.
Take pictures. A scrapbook or journal are a noble pursuit if you have time to pursue them. Take pictures. Freezeframe every detail you think is adorable, frustrating, funny or sweet. Color, black and white, sepia, dated, marked in folders on your computer, backed up on flashdrives. Take pictures.
Don't let anything stand the way of your love for one another. Love until you can't love another once, then love some more. Laugh every single breath, then tickle them again. Dance together @ age one and twenty-five, again @ ten and thirty-five. Never pass up the opportunity to hug. Pounce. Say I love you. Take pictures.
Stand by as they evolve even if the path they chose at the moment isn't one you agreed with. They might need you to pick up the phone & hear them say Mom. I'm sick. Mom. I love you. When you coming this way, Mom? Mom, there are times I wish things were different now-do you still love me? Mom, when I grow up, will you still stand by in case I fall even though you might have to stand back until I can get to you?
Take pictures of laughter, wrestling, shooting baskets, swinging bats, shooting arrows in trees, in targets, with deer, with fish, with friends, with family.
Pray like you never have before. To God, to Jesus, to all angels to stand near, ready to catch him, to hold him when you can't be there and yes, there will be times you can't be there.
Smile as you watch him make choices. Remember when you had the world by the tail and know that he's got some of you in him, know that he carries you in his heart from age one minute to sixteen years.
Relish every second, every minute, every hour you have together.
Love unabashedly, laugh completely, prepare him for days to come when life won't treat him like you would.
Teach him what truth, honor, determination, hard work and love can give him in the long haul.
And take pictures.
