Growing Pains

Last night The Boy and I had a talk.

He's considering some changes in his life, and has some hard choices to make. He is trying to do what is right, and I'm proud of him for that.  However, the growth he is experiencing through his choices does not come without pain.

That's how growth usually happens, isn't it?  The seed dies in order to produce a plant.  Good things can come from pain.

In The Boy's life, it's the pain of growing up, making adult decisions.  In our lives, it's the pain of letting go in order to let him make his own choices and find his own way, regardless of how much it hurts.

Will he make mistakes?  Of course.  But it's hard to learn anything without making a mistake or two.  We fallible humans never learn anything by doing everything perfectly the first time, and he won't be an exception to the rule.

So we'll do what we can.  We'll pray he makes good decisions, and we'll be here for him when he doesn't.  We'll let him walk and watch him fall, always here to pick up the pieces.

As he said in our discussion last night, "You and Dad raised me right.  I won't let you down."

I know you won't, Son.  I know you won't.