For weeks we’ve watched as the class of 2015 turned their tassels and attention from years gone by to all that’s ahead. Make no mistake about it; there’s lots ahead.
What a beautiful thing. Imagine… a clean slate… one to be freshly written upon… by the innocence of youth, surpassing the age of adolescence, as these fine young men and women now enter adulthood.
Let me first give a shout out to the parents whose road I’ve shared as we watch kid number one fly the coop… I have so much respect and appreciation for you. It has also been my absolute privilege to share this time together, cheering for one another’s children, celebrating the uniqueness of each individual child’s gift. What a joy and a privilege to celebrate your child!
I must admit, however, that I probably would not have been as sincere in cheering on your child if it wasn’t for the wisdom of Dr. Tim Kimmel. Over a dozen some years ago, I was so impressed by his Raising Kids for True Greatness, as it changed the way I thought… changed what I believed… and yes, it changed the way I cheered. Warning: the book is also, completely, anti-current culture — a culture that seemingly encourages finding worth in comparing ourselves to one another.
Kimmel challenges the reader to quit seeing life as limited; quit seeing opportunity as limited. We tend to see opportunity as created by man, and thus, there’s only so much opportunity to go around. That means there’s only one lead in the play, one starting QB, and one solo in the choir for the director to dish out. And when we fall prey to that line of thinking, we then also believe that if your kid got that lead or that start or that solo, then he or she took that away from me. If someone else has that spot or solo, there’s one less opportunity for me.
But when we learn to instead trust in the great big God of the universe — meaning we recognize that he is the creator not only of us but also of the actual opportunity — we learn that he allows people to be put in places that grow them best. He molds us. He teaches us. He grows us. And transparently speaking, sometimes I have grown best and most by not being the so-called lead in the play.
Once we trust God with the way our opportunities unfold, it takes all the pressure off to be congratulatory when inside, such is furthest from our thoughts; we don’t have to fake it. We can be genuinely happy for the perceived success of someone else’s child because we no longer see another’s success as negatively impacting us. We no longer see life as a comparison or competition. (Such is another beautiful thing… 🙂 )
One of my senior son’s “lasts” this past year was high school baseball. We have loved being a part of the baseball community. We have also experienced several special moments — complete games, a handful of one-hitters, striking out the side in a no outs/loaded bases situation. It’s been a wonderful time.
But one of my favorite baseball moments came in the final weeks of this year’s playoff season… his first home run… ever. And he smashed that pitch in a key moment of a game versus a rather intense rival.
The best part? Seeing his face as he rounded third and headed for home. He was grinning from ear to ear.
Did I mention that the proud home run hitter wasn’t my son?
It was an absolute beautiful thing.
Respectfully… with great joy…
AR