More Glimpses

When you have a twelve year old son in the house, life sometimes seems to be a 90mph roller coaster ride.  In the dark.  With blaring music intended to deafen you by the time you hit fifty.

Some days we are on the UP side of life, laughing and giggling and loving being alive.  Then we are on the DOWN side of things, crying and griping and screaming about how life isn't really fair.  From moment to moment, you really have no idea where the car is on the tracks, you just know you better hold on for all you are worth, lest you get a wicked bad whiplash.

It's kind of like living with me on a monthly basis.  But, without the period.

When things are good, they are often hyper good these days.  Such was an event that took place this week, providing more proof that this parenting thing, whiplash and all, is worth it.

Last night, Nickels got in the car with Mike and said he wanted to tell him something but he was scared to share it.  Of course, Mike was thinking "What did he do at the church?  Did he throw a cherry bomb down the toilet?  Did he kiss a girl in the back hallway?  Did he admit MommaJ and I lose our temper about once a day?" 

WWWWHHHHAAAATTTTTTTT?

Thankfully, with Nickels, if you tell him he can think about it and tell you when he is good and ready, that ready comes within the next five or so seconds.

Honestly, this is a great trait because it lends itself to a short, patient wait, with an information dump as a reward.  And, often, those information dumps are straight from the heart about matters of the heart.  Things like loving Jesus or having a crush or still feeling sad thinking about Grandma Joyce being gone.

Mike and I have learned to act nonchalant in these situations, even though our hearts about pound out of our chests and we feel like we could spew any moment. 

"Dad?  I'm ready to follow you."

I think Mike about had a wreck.  "What is in the Kool-Aid at the church?", he was wondering.

Well, we know what's in the water.  Or, probably more specifically, what's in the spirit.  The Holy Spirit is working through a program for sixth graders that emphasizes the verse from 1 Timothy 4:12:  "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

This program started Sunday night and the whole journey to the point of this comment was Spirit filled.

First, the introductory letter arrived.  I was less than optimistic that we could make it work because 1T412, as it is called, occurred at the same time as a Bible study at our house and put another activity on Nickel's long extracurricular to-do list.

But, Nickels was undeterred.  He wanted to go.  And timing, the homework piece, and the fact that he'd have activities five night a week didn't matter.  So, he attended the introductory evening.  And was hooked from the get go.

This "I'm ready" revelation occurred after session number one, where our oft ADD-riddled son was the lone sixth-grader taking notes and who obeyed Mike when he asked Nickels to stay away from the sodas and most of the chips.*

So, when they arrived home and Mike shared Nickel's revelation, I only had one question:  "Does this obedience include ME?"  Nickels got a "GEEZ MOM" look on his face, leaned into me and said "yes" with a big smile.

As we drove to a movie Monday afternoon, a Christian song we all knew came on the radio.  I couldn't help but think about the path all three of the boys are going down as we were singing our hearts out to the same God, a Savior who is calling us each to our own special place in His kingdom.   

I honestly know no greater joy than watching my children follow the lead of Mike and I into the things of God.  There are no grades or honors or trophies that trump knowing our boys are headed down the right path, even when that path is a bit rocky or uncertain or even seemingly impossible at times.

On the days that are less than stellar, I'm going to be grateful that I have a gracious, loving Father who moved me beyond plastic baby dolls to the real thing.  A God who is worthy of being followed and trusted and loved. I'm going to remember that He, too, is a parent and has walked a far rockier path than I ever will. 

For now, though, the sweet words that echo in my mind and heart and will forever be etched there are "I am ready to follow."

Me, too, Nickels.  Me, too.

*Darn allergies.