Artistic self portrait of Jacob.Well, it's official. Jacob, the youngest of my kids was just signed up for driver's education today. This is a momentous, bittersweet occasion mixed with a plethora of emotions. I feel like I felt the day he graduated 8th grade (the last of my kids at that school). It's like finishing another chapter in my life's novel. Hard to believe he'll already be 16 in November...my baby. *sniff.
I am holding on tighter than ever to this man-child who now towers over me at 6'3". He's such a great kid, so kind and gentle and respectful... but begging for a cellphone ..."like all the other kids, mom"... I just haven't figured out how on earth I can fit one more phone on my plan. I'm just trying to buy some time here... One thing I know for sure...text messaging is the devil. I just had to totally remove it off one phone because it was being abused. I'm glad I didn't have to wipe it off all the phones because it wasn't fair to those not abusing it.
My heart hurts today. I spilled my guts in a heart-wrenching letter to Josh explaining the meaning of true love. This is an excerpt from that letter:
Do you want the REAL definition of “true love?”
True love gives birth to a child and brings them into this world and teaches and guides and protects them from harm. True love gets up with screaming babies, fevers and tummy aches. True love agonizes over skinned shins and scraped elbows and broken bones. True love walks their kid to their first day of kindergarten and cries all the way home. True love defends their child and goes to bat for their child and looks out for their child; protects their child. True love prays over their child and agonizes to God over every mistake they make. True love hurts.so.much.that.you.cannot.breathe. when you see your child being mistreated. True love does not control. True love disciplines. True love guides. The truest love of all is parenting your child and teaching them how to recognize true love. True love is not self-serving…it’s wanting the best for that person by providing the best that we have to offer.
True love gives birth to a child and brings them into this world and teaches and guides and protects them from harm. True love gets up with screaming babies, fevers and tummy aches. True love agonizes over skinned shins and scraped elbows and broken bones. True love walks their kid to their first day of kindergarten and cries all the way home. True love defends their child and goes to bat for their child and looks out for their child; protects their child. True love prays over their child and agonizes to God over every mistake they make. True love hurts.so.much.that.you.cannot.breathe. when you see your child being mistreated. True love does not control. True love disciplines. True love guides. The truest love of all is parenting your child and teaching them how to recognize true love. True love is not self-serving…it’s wanting the best for that person by providing the best that we have to offer.
*sigh. It sure hurts to pour yourself into a letter, unsure of how well it will be received.
2 comments:
That is a great great letter. Someday he will appreciate it...especially when he finds "the one" and truly understands what love means. You will hear the words, "You were right all along, Mom." Meanwhile, keep praying for him.
thanks for the encouragement.
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