34 and 1
It seems so strange now, what happened a year ago today. The terrible suffering and bleeding that Kelly endured, seeing my baby whisked away into the nursery for immediate intensive observation, that nagging fear that Kelly might even die, not just for my mother or me, but seeing the hospital staff also fearing for Kelly’s life… but now all is well. The events are still vividly seared into my mind, but healing has come. Kelly is well. Our little girl, even as I type this, is happily bashing keys and playing with the mouse.
As I reflect on her birthday and on one year of being a dad in the fullest sense, I’m also reminded of the great love and care my Mom and Dad have given their children. 34 years and still happily married. Today’s also their anniversary. Sure, it hasn’t been a perfect 34 years, but that’s life in this fallen world. By any human standard, they’ve been successful parents. 6 children all now out of the house and on their own, two married, two grandchildren, one on the way. A pastor, a physicist, a teacher, a doctor, a professional church worker, and a city planning staffer numbered among the children. But most important is simply how they love us and brought Jesus to us.
I only hope I can parent as well as I have been parented. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for reading to and with me, for praying with me, for playing with me, for singing to and with me, for telling me stories, for encouraging me, for bringing me to church every Sunday without fail, for living lives of faith that brought Sunday into the rest of the week, for always being there when I needed you and especially in those times I thought I didn’t! God grant you many more years!