I asked my pre-teen son what he was thankful for yesterday. He paused for a moment, and then replied, “My home, sports, my clothes and family.”
“So, do I rank higher than your skinny jeans?” I inquired.
He smirked and mumbled, “Sure, mom.”
I didn’t get the response I wanted, but then again, he didn’t mention his friends and I know they rank pretty high on the list. Secretly, I wanted him to proclaim his heart for Christ and yet was instead confronted with his passion for fashion. Awesome.
***
A few weeks ago, my son performed as a rapper for the school talent show. His rendition of Whoomp There it is was truly engaging. My fair-haired white boy took the lead solo in a tribute to The Tag Team and owned it with confidence and panache. But it was another child at the performance that ended up stealing my heart.
Sydney, a little seventh grade girl, climbed up on the stage and boldly proclaimed her faith with a simple guitar and a courageous voice. She self wrote and performed Glow Within Me, a song about her dependence on Christ and the impact His sacrifice on the Cross made in her life.
Tears streamed down my face as I watched this little evangelist rock the stage. She received the biggest applause of the evening and I have to believe her impact went far beyond the night.
Personally, it brought up emotions in my own heart that I am still processing.
Truth be told, I wish I was more like her. I envied her boldness and strength to stand in the face of adversity. And lest you think middle school is not a jungle, think again. It’s a scary place for an adolescent in a cesspool of insecurity, puberty and social drama. Reputations are won and lost in the battle of Middle School.
Secretly, I also wanted my son to be the one in front of the crowd proclaiming his faith. I mean he is the pastors’ kid after all! Couldn’t some of my husband’s charismatic for Christ sparkle have transcended to our boy? Just a tad more Jesus and a little less Usher?
***
Last night, my son and I took a walk along the canyon by our home. He threw rocks deep into the crevice and I watched him scamper around and laughed at his goofy antics. It was a sweet picture of a boy on the verge of manhood and a mother yearning to direct and guide her son’s heart.
And as we walked, we talked about humility and who we are in light of God…that we are nothing more and nothing less than what He created us to be. Kyle brought up sacrifice and obedience, and his struggle to do the right thing even when it’s hard. He shared how working with the kindergarten class in Sunday school was a pain in the butt, but he knew how important it was to the church at large and made a conscious effort to suck up his reservations.
The more Kyle talked, the more I was reminded of my son’s character and Godliness. My desire for him to be something else…more bold, more this, and more that, fell away in the recognition of who he truly is in light of God. My lesson to him on humility was really a lesson to me.
And so today, I am grateful for my son Kyle (the athlete), who loves his family, his home and has a wicked sense of style, turquoise skinny jeans and all. No more and no less.
