Fatherhood

I've been wanting to write on this topic over the past week, but never got the time to do it. Initially, my interactions with one of the boys at work had me spurred to start this topic. But there have been little instances all week that had my mind track back to it.

I'll start at work. Sunday, I was outside with our newest boy, a rough around the edges individual from the projects of Cambridge, Massachusetts. When he first came, his abrasiveness shifted the landscape of our house. Slowly, he has been buying into the program though and Sunday was true testament. He's a natural athlete and so we were shooting jumpers on the court. He must have made some comment about his shooting or maybe I just made one of my off handed comments on how to improve it. By the end, it became a mini-coaching session. Here I was teaching him the same fundamentals that my father taught me around the same age. As I struggled to come up with more tips, I thought how nice it was. Something about a child taking in something you said and applying it to their life. I know in this case it was simple basketball that I probably mangled, but the effect is still there.

Later in the week, as I did chores around the house, I could hear the laughs of the neighbor's children. When I did happen to see them, it was so precious. Just the interaction between brother and sister, who both can't be over 7, was awesome. It continued at church earlier today. I visited my aunt and grandfather's church and I couldn't believe how many children therewere running around. But listening to them laugh and play and cry made me want one of my own so bad. And holding a couple of them had me ready to steal them.

You can cut the alarms. I know I'm nowhere near ready to take on the responsibilities that are attached with a child and becoming a parent. I really do long for that experience. It might be the easy approach to life children have. It might be the chance to love and nurture another human being. Whatever it is, I hope the Lord blesses me with that experience