“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)

This week I had one of those moments… if you are a parent, especially a dad, you can relate.  I was watching my oldest son, Jaden, at the top of a huge skate ramp, facing death and doom at the 7 foot drop-in before him.  He’d been standing there for at least five minutes, rocking back and forth on his skateboard, dealing with his anxious thoughts and fears.  He had watched the other kids drop-in; however, he had never dropped-in from such a height.  I was watching from a distance the entire time as he processed through his emotions.  Then it happened.  He looked over at me and waved with a huge smile on his face; there were no words, but the expression said it all, “Look at me Poppa!  I’m a big boy now!  I’m going to do it!  I’ll make you proud!”

I relished the moment.  I savored it like a fine cup of coffee on a cold winter day.  That is my son!  I thought, “my boy is growing up… how many more moments like this will we have together before he’s an adult?”  Deep inside I felt as if it it would not be enough, as the childish things would be set aside for adult preoccupations.

I couldn’t stand at a distance any longer. I walked across the skate warehouse, risking life and limb as kids skateboarded all around me.  I approached the skate ramp and said, “Jaden, trust God, you can do it.” Jaden replied, “I’m scared Poppa!” I said, “I’m here with you, I’m watching. If you fall, I’ll be here to pick you up. Falling is a part of skateboarding and the first time is always the scariest.”

With that, he slowly rocked towards the edge of the drop-in and skated down the ramp. Sure, he fell at the bottom and sprawled across the hard wood flooring… sure, he probably hurt a few body parts. But when he turned to me, with tears in his eyes because of the pain, all he saw was a proud Poppa with a huge smile on his face shouting, “You did it! You did it!” and his fists pumping in the air.  I rushed over to give him a hug. In that moment, in that joyful embrace, all his pain and sorrow (about falling so quickly) melted away and were replaced with joy and love. He knew his Poppa loved him and was proud of him. Somehow, that was all that mattered.

A few seconds later, the moment had passed. Jaden was back on his skateboard doing a manual down a small ramp. He could go on secure in the love of his father. I never want to forget it.

“Sing to the LORD, you faithful followers of his; give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one’s life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning. In my self-confidence I said, ‘I will never be upended.’ O LORD, in your good favor you made me secure.” (Psalm 30:4-7)