Brenda and I reached another milestone this week. We dropped Zen (our oldest son) off at ACU. As we reach this time in our lives, we now have to say we have a college age son. It is hard to imagine we are that old. Since coming home, I’ve spent some time reflecting on other milestones. I can actually remember the time we didn’t have children and then the joy I had in learning we were having our first child. The birth, first word, first step, riding a bike for the first time, first day of school and then High School graduation were all great occasions but none that measure up to this event. But leaving your child at College is more than a milestone; it is an accomplishment of sorts. Brenda and I have been preparing Zen for this day for 18 years. We’ve been teaching, molding and grooming him for adulthood or a passage to this new chapter in his life as well as ours. Of course, our work is never quite through, but we now need to step back or take a back seat and “cut the apron strings” and let him make choices and decisions on his own. The question that keeps coming to my mind is, will he thrive or flounder without us? Well, God can only answer that question, but we truly believe he is ready to step out and be the Christian man that he was groomed to become. We have been fortunate to have him with us and he has been a blessing to all of our lives. He is, after all, a gift on loan from God.
Many of you reading this have experienced this passage and know the same emotions that we are having. Some of you young fathers will get here sooner than you think. I find myself wanting and wishing for more time, but just think that is a natural emotion. I urge all you young fathers to prepare yourselves and your children for the time they leave home. Spend as much time as possible with your kids and teach and guide them in the way of the Lord. “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
In retrospect, our emotions are primarily of excitement. We fondly remember our time at ACU, and know that Zen will flourish in his new surroundings. We really feel that Zen is where he needs to be. He is surrounded by peers that are walking in His steps and can help each other in drawing closer to each other and to their Savior. Yes, it is sad to see that empty chair at the dinner table and know the dynamics of our house will change. And when he walks through the front door, he won’t be a child but an adult, a man of God. Zen will be missed more than words can describe but we pray and we even know that the past 18 years have been years that have prepared him to be where he is now. It is exciting to imagine where God will lead him.
I do find myself longing to talk with him and want to sit down and visit about his new life and what lessons he is learning. I know now how Paul felt when he left a city and church that he planted and know the feelings behind his words as he wrote about wanting to visit and talk about their faith. I also can identify with John as he wrote in his third letter saying, “There is no greater joy than seeing your children walk in the faith.”
---Rick Morgan, an IronMan
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2 comments:
I really enjoyed your comments Rick...especially where you are talking about the first things, such as riding bikes, first words, first steps, etc. We are going through those very things right now and, although the days seem long at times, I know that I will miss them terribly when they are gone.
You gave me some things to think about today. Thank you.
How true Rich.
Rick I knew that in those grey hairs their is some wisdom and great advise. I love the fact that you are sharing these moments with us. As a relatively new father, compared to you, I need to remember that the times of Ben asking me to sit on the floor with him to play baseball will to come to an end and that I need to cherish and love these moments NOW!
Thank you for your willingness to be an open and caring man of God.
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