I sat down to write something profound in his birthday card and honestly couldn't quite come up with anything. For those who regularly read this blog you know that it's usually no trouble for me to come up with at least a few words. But, as I sat there, pondering I honestly couldn't summon the words to describe my feelings for him.
It started when I went shopping for the right card to get him. There was the usually mushy stuff - "Son, you're the greatest! .... blah, blah, blah..." How do they come up with this awful stuff?
Then there were the light-hearted, humorous cards. The ever-popular money holder is always a big hit. I settled on a somewhat funny one about all of a son's great qualities - on the inside of course, it said he must take after his parents.
The short story is this - I really hate greeting cards. What are they really? You are paying between $2 - $5 for somebody else to give you some "nice" words to say on a special occasion.
On a whole, we as a society have become a bunch of inarticulate wimps who are unable to communicate our feelings in any meaningful way. Simply put - we aren't very good at telling those we love that we do in fact "love" them. We have to pay somebody else to do it for us - in the form of a "greeting card". (That's why I always buy blank one's to give to my wife!)
But, back to what I didn't find the words to write on the cheesy birthday card I paid 3 bucks for.
As I grasped the pen and tapped my chin a bit, I wrote the only words I could to describe what I was truly feeling:
As I grasped the pen and tapped my chin a bit, I wrote the only words I could to describe what I was truly feeling:
Darian - "Wow!" Love, Dad.
Profound wasn't it. Deep. Meaningful. Eloquent. Yep, summed it all up right there.
In all honesty - I really felt I had captured the essence of what it was I wanted to say. I would of course have to elaborate - I did. (And I will here too.)
So, what does "Wow" mean? Well, it means a lot! For me, Beth, the whole family! Please indulge me as I publicly brag on my son. Here's what "Wow"means - I think you will all agree:
Darian -
Wow! I can't believe that it's already been seventeen years since you were born! Do you have any idea how young, naive and scared we were as parents bringing you into this world, and home from the hospital to our little two-bedroom condo??????
Wow! You are a senior in high school now! You've got your whole life ahead of you - all kinds of opportunity awaits you! You're going to be out on your own soon.
Wow! You are taking calculus?????? I'm not even sure if I spelled it right! That would explain the rather expensive graphing calculator we just bought you. Seriously though, you have every right to succeed in life if you work hard for it. You have the talent, the ability, the discipline and the brains to do it.
(Darian with cousin Allison)
Wow! You are a really talented guy! You were the first to score a goal in the very first game of the soccer season - a beautiful header! And you scored again two games later! (You aren't going to be a ball-hog this season, are you?) Let's not forget that you are also becoming an excellent musician!
Wow! We are very proud of you for many of your accomplishments - but most of all, we thank God that you have become a young man of integrity. You have evidenced a deep faith in God, and you have proven to us as your parents that we can trust you to be honest and responsible.
(Darian with his "friend" Rachael)
What else can I say? Wow!
Love, Dad
