My son is preparing to close a chapter in his life that he has worked towards for over 6 years. He is getting ready to defend his Masters degree thesis. Of course, as his mother, I am proud of him and his accomplishment.
I am preparing to go to Seattle to watch him close out this chapter in his life. In doing so, I have been reminiscing about all he has done to make himself as successful as he is. he has worked so hard and has made the most of every single opportunity that came his way-even ones most of us would have let pass by. He is diligent in his work, plays hard and has a strong sense of loyalty along with an incredible work ethic.
I am proud of those things, but more importantly, I am proud of the man he has become. He doesn't go to church as often as I would like, but when I see him, I can see the fire of the Holy Spirit in him. I can see how genuine he is, how he cares more deeply than he allows most to see. I am proud that he has integrity, that he is honest, that he cares about others, that he strives to be the best version of himself everyday. He inspires others, yet he is modest.
I know that every mother loves their children, they should-children are Gods gift to us. They are a perfect reflection of our best and worst qualities at the same moment. I think that it is so important that we remember this as parents, that we remember that the things we love most about our children are the things we either love the most about ourselves, or are qualities we wish we had. The things that frustrate us the most, convict us of our own shortcomings.
Some people have said to me, that maybe my son would be embarrassed by having his parents at his defense. I don't agree with this. Every child, no matter how old, wants to have their parents approval and acceptance. We all want to know that our parents are proud of us, that they believe the world is a better place because we are here. I firmly believe that the world is better because my son is here. I will be there to shout to the world just how proud of this young man I am.
I cannot wait to see him achieve the dream he has worked at for so long. In addition, I want him to know how incredibly proud of him his daddy and I are. I just had to share with the world what an incredible gift I was given nearly 26 years ago, and I thank God every single day for him.
Way to go son!
