It’s hard for me to believe that tomorrow you will be ten.
In less time than you have already been here with us, you will be preparing to
leave home—to step out into the world and become a man—to make a difference and
live a life you love. But for now, I am thrilled that you are still my little boy who loves his "stuffies" and sleeps with them covering his bed, that every once in awhile you still sneak up into our bed and that when you are sick or scared you still want your mom. I know though, that I will barely blink and you will be headed off to college, to
make your mark on the world. So, just in case I forget to tell you or we run
out of time, these are some of the things I want you to know.
As you
enter the tween, and then teen years, choices will become more difficult.
What’s right and wrong will not always be black and white, but a murkier shade
of gray. You will start to realize that your parents (me!) are human, fallible
and even flawed. That makes me sad, but in the end, I know that’s what will
make it OK for you to make your own mistakes, accept yourself, learn from them
and move on.
Remember,
as you face life’s struggles; know that God will always give you what you need.
It may not be what you want. At times you may feel lower than low but, over
time, you will be able to look back and see the things that were so hard for
you and so hurtful to you may not even matter anymore. So remember—if it won’t
matter five years (or five weeks!) from now it doesn’t matter now. If they do
still matter, then that probably means you learned something from the
situation. Think hard on what that is, consider what brought you to that place,
apply what you learned and most important—MOVE ON!
As you’re
making your way in life, you will make mistakes, but none that are so big you
can’t overcome them. A good rule of thumb is to never do something you wouldn’t
want Grandma and Grandpa or your little sister to know about. If having them find
out would be embarrassing, then you shouldn’t do it.
Most importantly, remember that
Daddy and I will always be here for you, loving you, having your back. We are
so blessed to have been chosen as your parents and so blessed for every single
day and moment we get to spend with you. When you were a baby I used to sneak
into your room every night after you went to sleep and watch you. When you were
three I wondered if I would ever stop doing that, but I haven’t yet. You’ll
never stop being my miracle.
Know that
you can do whatever you want—with determination and hard work, which you have
never shied away from. Keep showing the world how amazing you are, and I will
be more than happy to sit back and watch.
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