The waves lapped the shore as we sat side by side on the sand. Sitting with my first born, we were soaking up the beauty of the ocean. All defenses were down as he relaxed in the sun and became the brilliant, talkative boy I remember. He and his brother were excited to have tickets to a medieval dinner show later that evening.
We found ourselves in a sweet conversation that I’ll treasure forever. It started with the subject of knights and their noble causes.
As he talked … I realized boys big and small, want to live out nobility.
To have a cause gives purpose.
He continued to tell me about Roman history, naming his favorite emperors and historic battles. And then he mentioned Constantine and the significance of the cross that was put on the soldier’s shields … taking me all the way back to the crusades.
His eyes danced as he relayed historic and symbolic meanings of Christianity.
Then I asked: “Would you have been a knight, son?”
“Well yea mother” he said. “I would fight for my faith, absolutely.”
Joy swelled in my heart. When sons and daughters grow up, taking their own paths, it’s a sweet blessing when they confess what we taught.
I struggled through the years with letting go and trusting God with my boy’s future: But in all my mistakes as a well-meaning mom, I see a hairy, man boy who isn’t perfect, but he gets what it’s all about and deeply believes his faith is worth defending.
I smile and remember the time he got a perm because he wanted hair like the knight, “Arthur” in the 2004 movie.
“Girls like curls” he said with a mischievous grin.
The qualities of a noble knight are loyalty, generosity and chivalry … and my boy gets all these right. He is loyal to a fault, generous till it hurts, and he defends the weak fearlessly. He works in the medical field and is so compassionate that his patients fight over him. For all his human frailties … my boy has some mighty noble qualities.
I will forever cherish those two hours with my son that day. I saw him as a man … and not my little boy.
Too often we take this parenting thing too personal. We think our kids are a reflection of us … when they do good … and when they mess up.
But that’s just pride, because any good thing in our children is because of the Creator.
And even when they make a bad choice, it doesn’t mean we didn’t do our job as a parent.
A sweet friend recently said; “Kids do stupid things because their brains aren’t fully developed.”
How very true. So lighten up moms, our sons and daughters have to live and learn.
Our job is to keep pointing them to JESUS.
My boy immensely enjoyed the medieval dinner show that evening. He even decided to be knighted. When asked what proclamation should be put on his knight certification … he replied … “Because being a knight is awesome.”
And so as he knelt for the ceremony, the Lord of the Manor “dubbed” Sir James Matthew Porter, a knight, and proclaimed to the masses that he was granted all the rights and privileges of a noble man … “Because being a knight is awesome.” He giggles like a little girl when we talk about it.
So moms, embrace everything about your kids, big and small, quirky, normal, good and bad.
Feed their dreams, guide them through their messes and celebrate their victories.
Take every opportunity to view into their souls … because I promise, you will cherish it forever.
Wrap them in your prayers but leave their future to their creator.
And most important … give them unconditional love … just as our Heavenly Father gives us.
So on this October day 2016, I celebrate my noble son’s 30th birthday.
Happy birthday Sir Matthew. You are precious in my sight … as well as your Heavenly Father’s.
Gosh how I love you son!
Aaron- my middle son, Matt- my first born, and the Falconer
Yes, Aaron humored his big brother.
