I suppose I would be unusual if I considered our two sons just normal. I believe them both to be far above average. That is normal for those of us who are part of the Lake Woebegone mentality.
Poke nearly any parent of adult children and they will rehearse what magnificent kids they have. Far above average. That is normal.
But, they don't have this blog forum to brag on so I will.
I have bragged on my oldest Tim, 40 his family, his ministry, his work, his teaching ability, his scholarly biblical depth and his good nature in the past.
Today I am bragging on my younger, Kevin 35.
For mothers day he sent one of the most thoughtful and creative gifts to his mom. She has been touched and amused by it. I talked to Kevin yesterday about it. The gift is a picture frame with scraps of paper in it and an interpretation of what those scraps mean.
Here's the story:
In 1977 Kevin was about 6 years old. Attending school in Harwood elementary. One day he took to school a toy robot for show and tell. After school an older student, Scott asked if he could "Borrow it". Kevin being a decent sort lent it to him. Scott didn't give it back. Kevin came home without out it. The problem was that before he went to school he had promised his mother that he would not lose this expensive robot which probably cost $10 in those days. Now he's home alone. Peggy was working. The bus dropped him off. We lived in the country. He decides that he is going to retrieve the robot before Mom gets home. Before trekking off in a cold January day in North Dakota to retrieve it, he leaves a note. Not on one piece of paper. But on 6 different pieces of paper. In crayon. Some backward letters. Written like a 6 year old would write. He explains he has departed to retrieve the toy Robot from Scott.
Then this 6 year old boy puts on his parka, his hat, his gloves and boots and off across the field he treks. This would be late afternoon in January in North Dakota. We lived far out in the country. He marched across an open field, across the Sheyenne River which fortunately was frozen, up the other bank to Scott's house. Marched up to the door, knocked, Scott brought the robot, Kevin marched back across the river, up the bank, across the field and home again. All before anyone got home.
The note is amazing because it's written by a 6 year old. Hard to understand but he thought it important to leave information about his quest in case he didn't make it home. I don't know how cold it was that winter but in ND in the country it couldn't have been swimsuit weather in January.
How did he know where Scott lived? The bus dropped him off before Kevin so he had an idea.
I have thought a great deal about what this says about Kevin's sense of responsibility, his willingness to strike out without fear, his determination, his caring and what that has meant in his life later.
Much. Who we are as kids translates in large part into who we become as adults.
When he was a little guy he set off to drive his trike to Harwood. Only the neighbors thought it strange he would strike off so boldly and called us did we know and retrieve him.
Later when the grade school he was attending had a fruit sales drive, Kevin marched up and down the streets of Fargo and sold huge numbers of Fruit boxes. He didn't know you couldn't do this and had no fear to try and succeed.
Once he wanted to go see a friend. So he hopped on a 4 wheeler at the age of 11 and drove all the way to Wheatland ND. A trip of 30 miles one way.
Later in life he did the same in deciding what and where to work and go to school.
Several years ago he just decided to pack up and move to Boston. He had a little Ford Escort at that time (I believe). He packed up all his worldly possessions in it and drove to Boston. He slept in his car. Went on line at the Public Library and in a day or so found a place to stay. Then he signed up with a temp agency and in a few days more was working full time. Eventually that led to working in the President of Harvard University's office and later in the Development office at Harvard with Millions of Dollars.
Since the Arts have been his passion he pursued and took a job as a house manager at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
That's where he is now. He did all this with no guarantee of success. No guarantee that anything would work out. Just boldness and a belief that if you try it can succeed. Then taking a step of faith and doing it. WOW.
I have a sense that at 35 years old he is considering another move somewhere. He is thinking about it. I know this, the same determination and boldness that enabled him to retrieve an errant toy from someone a half mile away on a late January evening without fear will allow him to set off to whatever is next.
He makes me very proud. And since from time to time he even reads his dear old dad's blog I hope he reads this.
Kevin my son, you are an exceptional young man. YOU inspire me to be bold and strong in the face of danger or uncertainty. Yet that gift to your mother was so sensitive, caring and creative it touched her at the deepest level. That was exceptional. You're a Good'n.
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