From a Mother to her Son

My dearest Jonathan—

Today is your birthday, yet again.  I marvel at how good the years look on you even as they weigh heavily upon me.  They seem to be coming closer and closer together; pretty soon they will just speed by as I sit still.  You will never know the joy a son brings to his mother.  Even as you shocked me through those trying teenage years, and exasperate me frequently, your mere existence is a blessing to me always.  I would not change anything about you.  

At twenty-three, you are hardly a kid anymore.  It is long past the time that we surprise you with a new hockey helmet or a fancy pair of kicks for your birthday.  That being said, I thought I would leave you with something more lasting and tangible.  These are my wishes for you.

I wish that you learn to press your advantage, forming a vision for the important role that you can play in your community.  You have the training, the knowledge, and the heart to make a difference.  Change doesn’t have to come in monumental ways.  Sometimes the most effective improvements are the incremental ones that trickle down and continue to affect others in a positive way.  

I wish that you learn to focus on the bigger picture, recognizing that what happens today is part of a greater whole.  You are already writing the script for your life.  Make decisions today based upon where you wish to go in the long run.  This will lead to better outcomes and greater satisfaction in life.

I wish that you could see the way people respond to you.  You are a natural leader, and with this comes responsibility.   Always use your powers for good.  It is never wrong to do the right thing.

I wish that you would recognize good health as its own reward.  The hand you have been dealt in life makes you stronger.  What sometimes seems like a sacrifice or a limitation is nothing more than an adjustment along the way.  Never forget that your experiences and the obstacles you overcome shape who you are as a man.  It is this total person that we love; he is a product of everything—both good and bad—that you have endured.

I wish you the joy and happiness in all things that you truly deserve.  You are beginning to make the transition from kid in our household to adult in your own.  I hope that you are well stocked with all the wisdom that your father and I have been able to impart, and that you put some of it to use once in a while.  

Finally, remember that a text message is not the same as the sound of your voice.  Call your mother often.  And keep the beard—I really like it.

Love,

Mom

Tomorrow's blog:  A Day for my Kids and Me