The New Year dawns. A frozen blanket settles over our neck of the woods. Fluffy socks. Knitted sweaters. Finding ways to block the winter’s edge as the wind seeps around window sills, door frames. Icy patches slick under boot {or tire as my car discovered Saturday afternoon…no damage done just sliding into parking spaces making unloading groceries a wild adventure}. Recalling the moments of recent weeks past. Many thoughts. Lively discussions. Much to digest and absorb {soul food and body fuel}. One story to share…
Toddler Man Child enjoys all things Pappy {aka my dad}. Liam likes to talk to Pappy on the phone. Mentions him on a regular basis. It’s pretty cute. My Dad is a pastor and a Man’s Man…He likes hunting. He can build things with wood. Fix cars. Repair almost anything. He and the guys at his church put a new roof on their church building a few years ago…they didn’t pay someone else to do it. They did it. He organized it…and he was up there too. A hardworker. A good man.
Recently the men of my Dad’s church honored him and gave this gift…A Sword.
Our little toddler man child found the sword while we were visiting last week. Pappy with our encouragement {which did not take much} got it out of its sheath to show him. This is one of those moments that I hope I always remember…
Little boy looks up at this warrior of a man, his grandfather, holding this huge glimmering sword and he smiles. Not just a silly toddler smile. Nope. He looks up with awe and wonder. Those hazel eyes filled with a sense of adventure and danger and he SMILED. My little warrior man with a beating heart of flesh and blood. Who wants to be a football player, drive cars fast and crash tractors when he grows up. He has a warrior buried deep in the core of his soul. With one brief glimpse I got to see that essence of a man. This was one of those Mary moments. One that will be treasured and remembered.
Treasured when he decides to move away from home.
Remembered when he launches himself off the back of the living room couch.
Treasured when he finds a woman he wants to marry.
Remembered when he scales his bedroom dresser trying to reach his piggy bank.
Treasured when he graduates from high school or college or both.
Remembered when he slides down the stairs backwards.
Treasured when he chooses to serve the Lord.
Remembered when he runs to the big pool when mommy isn’t looking and starts to go down the steps…and no one stops him because he is so confident and such a big boy. Instead they all look at me, this screaming mad woman like she is, well, mad.
All these things I will treasure and remember and sacredly store as we endeavor to raise a Warrior Toddler Man Child and his little brother.
Entry #391…A little boy named Liam
Entry #392…A little boy named Caleb
Entry #393…A Warrior Pappy – pastor, husband, dad
Entry #394…A church that loves my parents
Entry #395…A Warrior Husband – training, learning, growing
Entry #396…A sword
Entry #397…Adventure
Entry #398…Danger
Entry #399…A Warrior’s Heart
Entry #400…A God that calls men to live dangerously!
Join a group of Gratitude chasers as we seek to live a Grateful Life…
