Parents are often amazed by their children. By their expressions, their behavior, their progress.
We had been most amazed by our boy's communication. He can talk and his syllables are varied and complex. He uses his words, his hands, his eyes, his body language. And we parents want to know what he needs.
We want to know his thoughts.
Take amazing thing number one off the top of the list and move it down to two. The dude can walk.
This very amazing development happened all of a sudden. I watched a 7 lb. baby exit his mother's birth canal head first last spring and today a 20-something-lb. man is exiting rooms in the upright position.
He walks like he's been walking all along.
The irony is he flunked algebra but has begun to ace calculus.
The irony is he flunked crawling but has begun to sign up for 5k run/walks.
Elliot is biped. And proud of it. We did not teach him this. He is an innovator, practicing his walk and adding muscle and finding balance with each movement. While his parents think he is napping, he is training in his cage called a crib. He is teaching us. Parents do not and cannot give to their child all he needs. Instead, the child must choose his steps. Only he can. He must learn, act, grow and be who he is created to be. And only he can choose where he should go. His feet are moving today and he has a will to be. To be in mom's neck or dad's grip; to be separating leaves from the grass or to be free to uncover all that is hidden. And there us much to uncover.
Elliot has all he needs. To be all of His.
God show yourself to this child that he may choose to be with you.
As your dad, I must walk and run in the way I know best, for you will likely follow to see where I am going. I must run and finish the race and keep the faith. The best way is the only way.
Elliot, you are wonderfully made. You have purpose. I hope you run. I hope you finish. We will run together.
Life happens all of a sudden. Do walk and talk through life with your mom and dad, Elliot.
And do teach us more.
In his heart Elliot plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. (Prov 3:16)
ReplyDeleteI don't know that he's a man yet...but the boy can definitely walk. With his hands in the air like he just don't care.