When I Grow Up

Several months ago, our youngest boy, Danny, came tromping into the living room with my shoes on.  I don't have enormous feet but when you put a size eleven shoe on the feet of a seven year old they look huge.  I joked with him about how quickly his feet had grown in just a short amount of time.  He then stated the obvious by saying.  "Dad, these are your shoes, don't you know?" 
I gave some thought to that small window of time that I enjoyed with Dan.  I thought about doing the same exact thing with my dad's shoes and thinking to myself that one day I was going to grow up to be big. 
I am thankful for the opportunity to look forward with anticipation of things yet to come.
About seventeen years ago, Becky and I found out that we were expecting our first child.  It was an exciting time for us but also overwhelming.  To be a father was something I had hoped would happen to me.  I wanted to grow up and get married to a wonderful person. (I got the very best!)  I hoped with all of my heart that I would be able to have children.  That blessing has also come to pass for which I am grateful. 
Speaking of looking forward to things.  I thought about the time that passed during the pregnancy of our oldest son, Brady.  From the beginning of the pregnancy, I began dreaming that this baby boy would be born with Down Syndrome.  The dreams were some of the sweetest experiences I have ever enjoyed.  Life was rich with this cute little boy.  Our life didn't seem to skip a beat at all.  I enjoyed everything about him.  The pregnancy went well and the day quickly arrived when we would finally enjoy this new addition to our family.  It finally came time for Dr. Macy to deliver the baby.  The delivery went well and Dr. Macy assured us that we had a healthy baby boy.  I must have had a puzzled look on my face when she looked at me to deliver the exciting news.  "Is he okay?" I asked.  "Yes!"  Was her response.  As I looked at this new beautiful baby boy, I expected to see this beautiful boy with challenges that we would live with for the remainder of our lives.  I was relieved but also a bit saddened because I had dreamed about him for many months.  I was grateful to have a healthy baby. 
All I ever wanted to do was grow up and be happy.  I have been blessed in abundance.  I still feel like Danny walking in those big shoes, looking forward to the many great adventures and opportunities that lie ahead.  The shoes still feel like they have some growing room.  When the day finally comes that I grow into those shoes, I hope that I have done all that I can do.  Because after all is said and done, I want to grow up to be the best person I can be. 

Band of Brothers

I love real life stories.  I've got a really good one to share with you.  More than twenty years have passed but the experience is still very clear in my mind. 

Danny was a typical young boy with a whole life ahead of him.  My younger brother became close friends with Danny.  Sometime after these two boys became friends, Danny had some medical problems that plagued his young body and some required surgical procedures needed to happen.  During ensuing weeks and months Danny's condition worsened and his problems eventually caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down.  Everything that Danny had once been able to do for himself now required the constant help of somebody else. 

Danny was hospitalized for awhile in the Oakland, California area for several months.  Machines were attached to him all of the time to keep him alive. 

An idea was devised by some boys, who were Danny's friends, and their church leaders to go and visit him each Sunday at the hospital in Oakland.  The drive from Sacramento to see him took about one hour and a half each way.  All who participated were thrilled by the opportunity to see their friend.  Every week there was at least one adult leader and two or three boys who traveled to the hospital to visit Danny.  Their visits were normally thirty minutes or less but the love that they took with them was uplifting to Danny's spirit.  I went on two different occasions and I was amazed at the happiness that these simple visits brought to this young boy.  His eyes would shine as we entered the room.  I was older than Danny but my heart was touched for the honor that it was for me to go and help brighten his day in a very small way.

He eventually came home but his body was always assisted by a machine.  Life was difficult to say the least.  Danny was the oldest child so his parents not only had him to care for but also other younger siblings.  He was wheelchair bound but learned to operate the wheelchair with a wand that he moved using his chin.  My brother and Danny became best friends. 

The Junior High School where they attended had a day where kids could dress up as twins.  Yep, you guessed it.  These two boys were twins in wheelchairs.  Over the next little while Danny's condition worsened until he passed away.

That was a sad day for many different reasons.  The greatest, of course, was that Danny was going to be missed by all of the people who had grown to love him through selfless service.

Although there have been many years that have passed since Danny was alive I can't help but think of the small window of time when several boys and their adult leaders combined their utmost love for the one brother that needed them the very most.  Their actions defined the essence of love and compassion from one brother to another.

We are presented with the same opportunity.  We can help to lift the burdens of those around us.  Be that person who gives a smile to someone who doesn't seem to have anything to smile about.  Be that ray of hope for someone who seems to have lost everything.  Our combined efforts will no doubt make for a brighter tomorrow.