Today is the day before the day I never thought I'd see one day! I promise
it'll make sense when you read further!
A couple of years ago...well, 27 years to be excact...I started my last year of school. Actually I think it would be more honest to say I trusted, hoped and prayed that it would be my last year of school!
At the age of sixteen and a half you don't really think of anything other than yourself, really! So, there I was thinking of how I'm going to make the last year of school worthwhile to remember. Would that girl in my class ever be willing to go on a date with the likes of me. Could I get my brother's bike to go visit her without being caught by the cops (or my Mother!), because I didn't have a licence. You know? Normal teenager thoughts for the early 80's!
And then...it's 27 years later and here I am on my daughter's 16th birthday and the day before my 18th wedding anniversary. Stuff that I never even considered would be part of my life 27 years ago. Suddenly that saying "Life is what happens while you're making other plans" comes to mind and I realise how true it all is!
But, before you think I'm complaining, I'm very happy with my life the way it is right now. Obviously we'd like to change the really BAD things that happened to us, like NOT falling off the bike last year June, or NOT selling that bike that turned out to be a collector's piece, or NOT getting into debt a couple of years ago, but where it concerns my family....I'm REALLY happy with where I am.
My marriage has been blessed, not through much of my own doing, but more through the perseverence and "never say die"-attitude of my wife. (Maybe that should be the "never say KILL"-attitude of my wife? :-) ) I realise after 18 years there must have been some times in her life that she was wondering whether she'd made the right choices, but I sure made a good choice 19 years ago!
Nevertheless, she has been standing by me through the proverbial "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer" times of our life together. But, trust me...it's in the for worse and for poorer times that your relationship gets tested, because I'm sure that even the most annoying person can be tolerated when it's for better, or for richer times!
She hasn't waivered, or become more discouraged than any other human being would have in the times together. (We all become discouraged at some point in our lives, but it's what we do about them that matters in the long run!) By God's Grace we've been able to work through these times together and managed to get out the other side feeling even stronger about our decision to be together.
Be that as it may, the other day I never thought I'd see is when I became a Father! As a matter of fact I never thought I'd become a Father TWICE! But here I am celebrating my daughter's 16th birthday and watching my 14 year old son celebrate his sister's birthday with as much enthusiasm and joy. Suddenly I realise it was made to be this way and I was exactly where I should be.
I think of all the times people around me were talking about how they think it's a miracle that parents actually allow their teenagers to survive to reach adulthood, because they can be so difficult!! But then I look at my two teenagers and I realise these people were probably just caught at one of those awkward times in their relationships with their kids, because I can't see it being that way today.
Maybe three days ago, but not today. I can't imagine my dauhgter being a difficult teen. She is so happy and thankful and pleasant and radiant and all the other words that describe a beautiful 16 year old being happy and content. Ok, it may have a lot to do with the attention and presents, but....I'm happy and thankful too.
Thankful that I have been given this responsibility of raising such a beautiful girl. More thankful that I have been given a faithful and good wife that can help me raise such a beautiful young lady. But above all, I'm thankful that she hasn't turned out to be anything like her Father was when he was 16!! :-)
So, for those of you that are reading this and are wondering what's going to happen with your life in the future...DON'T! The future is meant to be an unpredictable place, otherwise we would have total control and stuff things up horribly. Just make sure the decisions you take today are worth living with 27 years from now!
I know my decisions are worth living with and I intend to make the most of that life.
Until next time...God Bless.
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