Things I Learned from My Son

Today being Fathers’ Day (and JW being born on Fathers’ Day) it seems an appropriate day to reflect upon the things I learned from my son.

Of course, it was from John’s Papa that I learned how to be a father – the best role model a son could ask for.

Also, it was because John’s Mammy & Papa took in foster babies while I was growing up that I learned how to change a dirty diaper and all the other logistics of fatherhood long before JW was born.

But from JW, being our first born, I learned the awesome responsibility of having another human being be totally dependent upon you.

I learned from my son (and from his Mama) what it feels like to love someone more than the gift of life itself.

I learned from JW that a parent’s ability to help shape another’s character ends at a pretty early age – that before you know it, you’ve done all you can do as a parent and that ultimately it is up to the child to make the most of what he is given, from both God and his parents.

I learned from my son the need to recognize life as the gift it is and the need to live it to the fullest at all times – an accomplishment at which JW doubtlessly succeeded.

I learned from JW the sheer joy of watching your boy grow up to be a good man – a very good man indeed.

I learned from my son how it is possible to live a truly holy life in a very unassuming way.

I learned from JW (and all my children) that a parent becomes truly wise when he recognizes just how much he can learn from his children.

I learned from my son what “Thy Will Be Done” means; that it simply means “my will not be done,” no matter how worthy and just I believe it to be. It does not necessarily mean God wills the opposite – it just means that I cannot live life expecting my will to prevail, no matter how noble I may think it is.

Finally, and most importantly, I learned from my son a better, albeit still imperfect, understanding of the loving, vulnerable, defenseless, and self-emptying generosity of God and his invitation to us to share in it.