Perservance

Each of my children have strengths and weakness, like all of us.  As their mom I can rattle off both on each of my offspring.  I think one of the greatest challenges for many of us moms, who are trying to train our children in righteousness, is the ditch we can fall into focusing on character that needs to be molded, instead of rejoicing in character shown.

This week our third born son, the one whom his Dad whistled the theme song, "My Three Sons" as his announcement to all he called from the hospital, turns 27.  Our third son earned his place in our family line up between two "I want the center stage" siblings.  He has quietly left the stage on more than one occasion to allow them the attention they both crave.  In so doing, he is our peacemaker.

He was our first violinist, here playing with Benjamin.

As he turns 27 this week I celebrate his character.  Character that has been molded by the Lord through perseverance.  While things have come a lot easier for his two older brothers, he has been the one who has continued to steadily move forward.  With each knock down, he has returned to his tall stature, which extends over his older brothers, to get himself back on course.

He will finish up his degree this summer.   He chose to obtain a degree debt-free.  This challenge meant he would forgo a new car, vacations and even returned home for extended stay, until he could find affordable rent.  Through out his journey he has continue to work full time or more, while attending school.  He would collect employee of the month and countless other work awards, while still pushing through with school.  He would walk the path at his own pace.

Many times I have questioned his college course, wondering if it might not be better for him to enter a career full time.  He would take off a semester, earn up money, and return to school.  He was determined.

As his other siblings married........and had children.....he continued on course.

When he was young my motto for him was, "slow and steady wins the race."  I was the mom who would yell from the bleachers, "run like your pants are on fire", while he slowly rounded the bases in baseball. He was never the child you could rush, but I also said, "you will never have heart problems from stress." He has always reminded calm.

My steady man has convicted his mother's heart more than once.  His silence can speak volumes, I never have heard him say a bad thing about anyone. He is never jealous, envious nor brags.  He humbly moves through life, while his siblings seem to be blazing trails blowing up dust, he is content.

So, today I look up to "My Mighty Tower", which is what his name means,  "I Love You and Happy Birthday".   Your perseverance has made you the man you are today, continue on your race.