When my brother-in-law, Drew…
and his awesome wife, Nancy…
were preparing to be Salvation Army officers…
at the training college here in California…
they would go out on spring campaigns.
This started…
when these punks…
were 2 and 18 months.
And did I mention…
that Son #2…
was 3 months?!
No…
it certainly wasn’t convenient.
To be honest…
even then…
I wasn’t looking for that.
Rather…
my desire…
was that they…
would all become…
the best of friends.
The following year’s visit…
under the same occasion…
produced quite a bonding moment…
when same said punks…
began jumping on the bed…
in their super hero undies…
and were told to stop.
They did.
After they went through…
the bedroom window…
and ended up…
on their bottoms…
in our back yard!
To this day…
I’m thankful…
that they weren’t hurt!
To borrow from Son #1′s…
toast at the reception…
they were together last Saturday…
when one of them…
took a major leap…
into adulthood.
It was simply beautiful.
Fact is…
the untimely death of his father…
propelled my 6 1/2-year-old nephew…
towards adulthood…
at breakneck speed…
while the concerns…
of most of the rest of his peers…
remained constant…
for those of age 6.
Being vulnerable…
is painful.
We had the privilege…
of having him visit…
every summer for years…
so our boys could remain close…
and his young, single mother…
with three children…
could have a much needed respite.
The things that perhaps…
seemed to have…
a “preachy” edge on Wednesday…
hopefully inspire today.
Moments with tears…
and talks about a father…
that my nephew relied on others…
to know through memories…
gave way to relationships…
accomplishments…
and decisions…
that have made all of us proud.
The rewards for pressing on…
are so very worth it.
Last Friday evening…
when we should have been…
long fast asleep…
there was a knock…
on our hotel room door.
Hero Hubby answered…
and I heard a whisper.
“You guys asleep?
We want to know how we look.”
These goofballs…
hung around for a bit…
laughing…
talking…
and reminiscing.
Funny…
I couldn’t remember…
one moment of inconvenience.
Only joy.
It is a perilous thing…
to feel a need to be the end-all…
for our children.
There are tremendous mentors…
that have lived life…
from angles you never will.
They have experienced…
and grown…
in ways far different…
than what God allows for you.
Community is vital…
for all of us.
Family…
is your first…
and most important one.
It is my privilege…
to share with you…
moments…
from our legacy.
It doesn’t include…
one minute…
of us being “lucky” parents.
No…
it has involved commitment…
intent…
healthy interdependence…
and tons of grace.
Here are some thoughts…
from my beautiful sister-in-law, Nancy.
I hope they serve…
to inspire you…
as much as she inspires us…
each and every day.
“This picture was taken by Carol Ann, Becky’s mother.
I don’t find it particularly flattering, but I like it, because it paints a thousand words…at least.
It was taken while either Clarence…
or Reagan…
were giving their brilliant toasts at the reception.
I had so many thoughts running through my head at the time it’s hard to formulate them now.
In those brief moments, I felt pride for a son who has gracefully conquered much, and has wholly given his heart to Jesus.
I felt joy as I saw Nick and Becky’s evident love for one another.
I felt blessed that Nick had chosen a beautiful, Godly woman to be his wife and partner in ministry.
I felt gratefulness to God for allowing Clarence to be there when just a couple of hours earlier he was in the hospital.
I felt nostalgia, and a bit of sadness and sense of loss for what was, and knowing my relationship with my son will be a little different now.
At the same time, I felt happiness for what is to come, and the new relationship I will have with Nick, and his amazing wife, Becky…and hopefully grandchildren…down the road.
I felt regret, knowing Drew wasn’t there in person to celebrate this special occasion with his family, and at the same time peace, knowing God had brought us to that moment through His awesome power and amazing grace; filling the gaps left by the loss of an earthly father.
I felt irony, in a humorous way, because I had a 22 year-old who had just married, and a 3-year old squirming in my lap and telling me he had to go pee-pee.
I felt honored that I was part of such a special day that will make our family
bigger…
stronger…
and better.
Lastly, I felt love, immense love for a God who has a perfect plan for each of our lives and who wants nothing more than to give us a hope and a future with Him.
He proved it on Saturday, August 20, 2011.”
Nicholas and Becky…
may you invest…
protect…
and build…
into your faith…
each other…
and family.
There’s really…
nothing quite like it!
I love you!,
Aunt
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