Jan. 10, 2008 - Tomorrow, I become the mother of a teenager!
Where have the years gone? How can my son be turning 13 tomorrow? He's very excited! We are having a party at the local indoor putt-putt place on Saturday for his friends. But tomorrow, I wanted to be just a family day. We are having his favorite meal for dinner.
I've spent the last month getting letters from important men in his life to him. (Dad, grandfathers, uncles, pastor, AWANA leaders, coaches, etc.) I asked them all to write a note of encouragement telling him what they thought the most important thing for him to know during his teen years and beyond was. It has been so neat to read these letters, and realize how very much people love and care for my ds.
We will give him the scrapbook tomorrow night after dinner, along with his other gifts. I don't think he will value the letters too much right now, but as he gets older, I think he will. We want to encourage him and uplift him tomorrow night. I hope he will see that many men have walked before him, and followed after God, and prayed for him. Almost every letter says something like, "I'm here if you ever need me. I want to be there to support and encourage you. I always wanted that when I was a teenager and never had it."
Isn't it sad that so many of these men felt alone during their teen years. They felt they had no one to turn to, that they had to figure it out on their own. They are all men that we love and respect, and I'm thankful that they took the time to share some of their life with my son. What a great thing- to have godly men going before you, helping you on your way.
So, I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. Looking at photos of the 5lb baby I delivered, and finding it hard to believe he has become such a beautiful young man. He's all excited, and I'm excited too, but at the same time, I'm a little sad. He's not a little boy anymore and every day he is moving farther from me. I love who he is becoming but I miss the little guy who ran into my arms when he fell, or who would just pop into a room and say, "I love you, mom."
Good grief, I'm babbling. I guess I just needed to get all of that out. It's probably crazy sounding. Pray for us as we embark up on this new frontier for our family!
Teenager??? Yikes!
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
