Aidan at 6 months (Feb 4)

I will post some 8-month pics soon...

Perspective - Part 2

In less than a year's time, from September 2005 to August 2006, three very significant events happened to me - I had a near-death experience myself, I watched my dad lose his battle with cancer, and I witnessed the birth of my first child. When I think about those three events, I realize I am standing in-between two points...I saw a blood relative leave this world and a blood relative enter this world, and here I am, taking inventory of how I've spent my life up to this point and what changes need to be made as I go forward. It is an interesting and sobering place to be. I visited my dad's grave on December 24th, what would have been his 72nd birthday. I also visited it on March 3, the anniversary of his death. I am happy that he is in heaven and not suffering anymore, but I am still saddened that he died with a large gap between things he wanted to do and what he actually did with his life. I think he had many regrets. Life is so very precious and each day we are alive is a gift to be savored.

I have seen, not only with my dad's life but also friends and acquaintances, how "little foxes" can "spoil the vine." The choices we make, the people we associate with, the negative things we hold onto - all these are variables that affect the course our lives take. I look at my 8+ month old son and realize he is an empty canvas with an incredible amount of potential. He will not only learn from things I say, but he will learn much more from what I do. I do not take that lightly. When he stands over my coffin, what will go through his head? I think of Steve Irwin and the eulogy that his daughter Bindy gave. He was and will continue to be her hero. I want all my choices in life to be examples to my son of what TO do, not a list of mistakes to avoid. He will still learn from either, but I want to be his hero. I want him to learn to be the best husband by watching me, I want him be the best father by drawing from his experiences with me, I want him to be successful in whatever he does and attribute it to principles learned from me, I want him to be a man after God's own heart because of my hunger and thirst for more of God, and I want him to have a passion for helping others as he sees that heart in me. So, if those things are my desire for his life, and I want him to pick them up from me, then they must be stirred up and maintained in my life. In each of those areas I need to ask myself at the end of each precious day, "Did I take steps forward toward those goals or did I move backwards."

Today I will move forward.

Perspective - Part 1

So I guess they finally finished the Grand Canyon Skywalk, that all-glass bridge that people can walk on and experience views rarely seen by humans before. Ever since I heard that I have been thinking about perspectives we all have in life and the things that change or expand them. For me, parenthood is definitely one of those life-view altering experiences. This Easter was the best Easter I have had in my life, from a family perspective as well as spiritual.

My life is so full of joy as I watch our son grow and learn new things daily. I will post more pics and videos soon. Words cannot describe what I feel when he smiles at me, when I teach him something, when I comfort him, and when we are just together enjoying the simple things like sunshine and trees blowing in the wind. I am often reminded of the Bible verse that says God rejoices over us with joy, and I realize how much He really does care about everything that goes on in our lives.

Sometimes I think...what if I got a call that person who was VERY remotely related to me, maybe from distant ancestors, was kidnapped by rebels in a hostile country and I was asked to trade my son's life for the mere possibility that this person MIGHT be released? Who would even entertain that thought? Even if it were GUARANTEED that the person would be released, still, he or she doesn't even know me. Yet, my Father God loved me so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to die for me while I was yet a sinner, knowing full well I have free will and could reject what that precious blood bought me. That kind of love is truly hard to grasp, but on this first Easter as a dad, I am a step closer, and it just blows my mind.

I hope this Easter brought you even closer to our Heavenly Father who loves you so much He sacrificed His only Son just for the chance to know you. He is rejoicing over you with joy. He loves to see your smile, wants to teach you things, comfort you, and just likes to be with you as you enjoy those simple things like sunshine and trees blowing in the wind.