Old Friends, Lasting Relationships And Then Those That Truly Shape Us....

I guess with this title it pretty much sum's it all up! Lately, I've been getting quite sentimental as my youngest child is turning 18 next week....and headed off to Auburn in the Fall...

                                          "Where did the time go?"   
  

                                               
                                                      When Did I Blink??

As I try to not get sad...or teary, or dread that empty nest feeling, I've been able to reflect on those  people in his life that have had the most impact....and then sometimes I shudder to think of the negative impact I may have had! Gosh...parenting is really hard!

                                     ( there is nothing like family and close friends! )

                        His basketball friends have had such a big influence on his life!

 We are so thankful for ALL of our dear friends!

And Lacrosse has always been fun!!

 

I think of his family...his grandparents, so godly and wise....his aunts, uncles, cousins and especially his brother and sister! When I think of the things we've been through as a family, the hard times and the
good times...I'm quite humbled...God has been very good!!! We have been blessed beyond measure! Miller was able to grow up with the best brother and sister in the world! He was able to WATCH them grow up! And..

watch them be examples to him....and learn through their relationships with the spouses they are married to! What a treat for me and Jim! I can't imagine him learning any better "life lessons" than watching Mitch date Britney and have a special marriage and the most wonderful child! Layton has taught Miller a lot herself! In fact...when she was born...he was taught what it means to trust God in EVERYTHING!!! I will never forget the tears he shed as he watched Mitch and Britney go through the birth of a child with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palette. It certainly is not something anyone would want for their children...but I wouldn't take that growing experience away from him or those talks away for anything when Miller finally let his guard down and cried and cried because of the heaviness in his heart for his brother and his sister in law! And just look at them now! God is good! Layton is such a beautiful testament to His workmanship! Her beauty, inside and out is almost more than I can stand!!

And then, he watched Holly live her high school life...most of it great...some of it really hard! He watched Coach Walker "set up" Holly and Brad....He LOVED Coach Walker!! To say that we all cried and were heartbroken when he went Home is putting it lightly! I am forever grateful for the example that Holly and Brad have given Miller on how to live as a teenager, a young person dating, etc.... Examples of how to make the right choice even when you may be pulled to make a wrong one! Real life, living, breathing, true examples of what growing up as a Christian young man should be like!

 

I so want that to be a continuous thread in Miller's life...It's getting harder and harder because he isn't home much! And we are getting lazy sometimes...I admit it! We are tired! We started when we were 19 and 20!! Seriously...We've never NOT had children at home!!! I think that's why it's hitting home so hard right now that he's really turning 18 next week! He's really leaving for college!  All I know is that he in turn... is now teaching US!!!

 He comes home and doesn't complain about his day...about how he wishes things could have gone differently in several areas of his life...with several key people in his life at the moment. He doesn't complain!!! He encourages his friends! He tells me it's ok!!!! He rarely talks about how bad his back hurts...or which Coach yelled at him...or for that matter, which Coach encouraged him! I'm just praying now that he will be encouraged by Someone! If I've made mistakes raising him...if his brother and sister and grandparents and friends can't give him any more encouragement than they already have....then I pray that Someone can! That Someone will have to be the Lord, Jesus Christ! There isn't any teacher, any coach, any sibling, any friend that can encourage Miller or any of us more than He can...and that, my friend...is VERY encouraging to me!!! As his mother...I need to know that Miller is seeking His encouragement and NOT anyone else's!!!









As John 3:16 says...." For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son, That Whosoever Believeth In Him Might Have Eternal Life"......

there is nothing more I can want for Miller or hope for Miller or pray for Miller....there is nothing else any friend, any teacher, any coach, any sibling or any parent can provide for Miller that compares to what Christ can give him.....even when it's hard to see it in the midst of life.......