[3] Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. [4] As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. [5] Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 126: 3-5
Thirty years ago this September my Bride and I embarked upon parenthood with the birth of our twins. As we brought them home from the hospital I recall thinking as I put down their carriers, “What’s next?” The next few decades answered that question. When we were blessed with children I was 34 and she was 33. Between us we had five college degrees from top universities. I had an established legal practice. We were fairly financially secure with our own home and the classic two cars. My Bride had made an intensive study of rearing children. If anyone had asked me I would have replied that we were well prepared for raising children. Ha! Parenthood was the wildest ride of our lives, our great adventure. It was joyful, exasperating, sad, exciting, terrible, wonderful, maddening, grand, often in the same day. It was completely unforgettable. Anything else we do in our lives will, for us, pale in insignificance to our role as parents. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
True riches, Don. Be thankful for them. I never cared much what job I would have growing up, as long as I got to be a father while working it. Alas, not every dream is realized.
That’s beautiful Don. Wise as always. Parenthood is not for the faint-hearted. I think it has dramatically aged me.