Do It Anyway

I wish I could say it in a way that young, tired parents would truly understand. I wish I would have listened more when parents of older children would try to tell me. Do it. It's worth every minute of it. It really only lasts a short season in life, and the payoff is worth many lifetimes to come.

• Getting up right after you crash in bed for the night because your 2, 3, 4 or 5 year old can't sleep and he needs you. Do it. It's worth it.

• Waking up before everyone else, even though you were the last one asleep, to pack lunches and get everything ready for the day before everyone else is up. Do it. It's worth it.

• Folding laundry and empting the dishwasher while rest of the family is doing their thing. Do it. It's worth it.

• Planning birthday parties and spending a small fortune on goodie bags, even though you think it's the worse idea anyone ever came up with. Do it. It's worth it.

• Staying up late at night to help with a homework assignment that should have been done two days ago. Do it. It's worth it.

• Holding the bowl while your baby is sick;

• Rubbing Vix Vapor Rub on bare chests;

• Filling the humidifier ... again. Do it. It's worth it.

• Making your child come home on curfew, even when he pushes back. Do it. It's worth it.

• Insisting he apologizes to someone he's wronged, in spite of the hateful glares he gives you or the hurtful things he says to you. Do it. It's worth it.

• Holding him to his word and commitments to other people, even when it's so much easier not to. Do it. It's worth it.

• Trusting your gut when it comes to who should be and should not be part of his social circle. Do it. It's worth it.

• Having those embarrassing and difficult conversations about girls, body parts, and privacy. Do it. It's worth it. 

• Being the strict parent instead of the fun one. Do it. It's worth it.

For almost 19 years I have focused on the responsibility I was given by being your mom and on all of the things that it might take to turn a baby boy into a kind, compassionate, strong, smart, and responsible warrior for God. All bets were off if even anything a parent could say or do would matter in the end. For almost 19 years I've worried, cried, stressed, and prayed that somehow all that I was trying to do for you would work, and that you would someday have the world at your fingertips. Well, guess what? That day is here, and I just can't hardly believe it.

The last few years flew by in a flash, and here you stand. A white color around your neck for your involvement and dedication to the NHS. A blue and gold rope around your neck for your achievements in Student Council. A gold sash for honors. I'm so proud! There's nothing to tell of your dedication to your church, leading small groups, spending every single Sunday with youth and Elevate rehearsal. There is no visual to tell of your heart and how you treat others with so much kindness, how you look for those being left out or who may be hurting to give a smile to or to sit by so they are not alone. I know you've often not understood why I was being so hard on you, but just look. Look at you now! And even though I see nothing but success this day, you know I'll continue to be your worse critic and your biggest fan, all at the same time, only because I know what you are capable of achieving. The world needs people like you to shine and shine big. 

Thank you for who you have become. Thank you for making it all worth it. I'm so excited for this next phase in life. Don't forget who you are and whose you are. And don't forget to pray for wisdom on knowing, seeing, and understanding God's purpose for you. It's gonna be good. It's gonna be big. And it's going to be difficult. But do it. It's worth it. I love you to the moon and back, Mom.