OCTOBER 2010 - Ever had one of those moments when a flush of pride washes over you like a river baptism? I had one of those last week, and it produced almost the same kind of feeling that I feel when I watch a brand-new believer take the plunge in healing, flowing waters.
I was driving the boy home from wrestling practice, and getting the rewind of his day. He told me he surprised himself. He told me one of his buddies told him he was going to be “beast.” I’m pretty sure that means he did well. He had had a dilemma earlier in the day. The very first day of wrestling was also the day the National Creative Society normally meets. They met at the same time, so the boy had to choose. He didn’t want to miss the very first wrestling meeting.
Turns out that the National Creative Society meeting was the meeting where the club elected officers and my boy, Mr. Guitar, Drummer, Piano, Caricature, Graffiti and whatever-he-puts-his-mind-to, was elected president. I was so proud. I have encouraged him to be a leader, to set the example, to take charge, to be the stand-up kid in a forest of followers, and here he was stepping up. Then, he surprised the heck out of me. “I think I might step back,” he said. “What do you mean?” I asked. “I think I might step back from being president,” he said.
My defenses went up. Come on, boy! This is an honor. This is position. This is leadership. Take charge! Don’t quit! Lead by example! Turns out he was.
There’s another boy who, my boy believes, wanted the Presidential position more, and my boy thought maybe he should let the other boy have the job. I told him that one day titles and positions like this can make a difference on a scholarship or college application, that he really ought to carefully consider these kinds of decisions, but you know what? I stopped.
Titles and positions may look good on an application, but character? That looks good on a person. The fact that my boy is compassionate, considerate and doesn’t take such things so seriously means the world to me. I didn’t follow up with him to see what he finally decided. I don’t have to know. I just know that my boy is a growing into the kind of man I hoped he would be. He considered making a sacrifice, he placed the needs of someone else over his own desires. The Bible has this rule that says do for others what you would want them to do for you. I’d say I have a golden boy on my hand.
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