18 years with a boy named Jacob Michael

Eighteen years ago today I became a mom.

I remember that day SO clearly. The excitement, the anticipation, the questions, the fears....and, of course the wondering : What will he be like? Will he be healthy? Will I be a good mommy? Who's eyes will he have? Needless to say, there are a lot of questions when you embark on the road we call parenthood. 21 hours of labor was a long time, but in the end it was definitely worth it!

Never could I have imagined how much joy this little one would bring to my heart!

Watching him grow up over the years has been quite the adventure. It's amazing how fast the years have gone by. It really doesn't seem like it's been all that long. From preschool to gradeschool to junior high and now high school I've seen him grow physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually....and I am SO PROUD of the man he is becoming! Praying over Jacob has been one of my top priorities since the day he entered this world. It is a daunting task, to say the least, when you are faced with raising a child. For me, the only thing to do was bathe his life and mine in prayer to the One who created us both. My times of prayer for Jacob, over the years, have been such a blessing! Just knowing that I could intercede on his behalf and trust that God would be faithful to both of us - NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Jacob is a testament to God's faithfulness today because of who he is. One of the things I love the most about Jacob is his incredible ability to see beyond the surface in those around him. It's like he can somehow sense exactly what others need from him, in any given situation, and then he generously gives exactly that and then some. He is a servant at heart, always. He is a strong, yet gentle leader. He has a strong desire to worship God with his whole being and an amazing voice to go with that passion!

I know God has some outstanding plans for Jacob's life. It is an exciting time when you're 18. Lots of new paths to choose from, and many opportunities to decide on. As I have done for the past 18+ years I will continue to pray over this beautiful child of mine....asking God to protect, guide, nurture and prosper him into the man He is shaping him to be. God has faithfully taken this little boy who was so filled with wonder and awe at the God who rescued Daniel from the hungry lion's and He has fashioned him into a spirit-filled, passionate seeker of Him. I know God will be faithful to complete the glorious work He began in Jacob all those years ago when he knelt in his bedroom and surrendered his life to Christ. Praise Him!

A Lesson on Character....learned from my son

Last night we went to Jacob's basketball game at Valley Catholic.  It was a great game!  We ended up winning in OT by one point.  At halftime, however, I found myself irritated & frustrated because Jacob was the only player who hadn't been put in by the coach yet.  At this point I was wishing I had a more vocal son...that he would stand up for himself and mention to the coach he hadn't played yet.  Well the second half went the exact same way...and with 3 minutes left in the game we had lost our 18 pt. lead and were now trailing by 3.  We had 2 guys foul-out and the coach finally put Jacob in with 2.04 minutes to go.  We ended up going into overtime and winning.

Now, all that to say I was sad for Jacob cause he hardly got to play - and he LOVES basketball & his team.  But, when I inquired about the reason he didn't play he replied, "Mom, coach just forgot to put me in...it was an intense game and he just wasn't aware."  I asked him why he didn't speak up and he said that the coach gets frustrated when the players complain about playing time.  He also said that one of the boys who fouled out (a boy who has a reputation for a bad attitude) sat down next to Jacob, after fouling out, and started complaining about the referee's "bad calls" and began moping & muttering about how we were sure to lose now.   Jacob promptly turned to him and said, "Look, I haven't played once this entire game, but I have sat here and faithfully supported our team anyway...so you have 2 choices, dude- you can either sit here and have a bad attitude and bring everybody down, or you can choose to support your team.  But frankly, I don't want to sit here and have to listen to your whining!"

Now I don't know what that boy thought about what Jacob had to say, but I almost cried when I heard those words....I'm crying now, even as I'm typing them out.   I am so proud of the man he is becoming...the man God is shaping him into.  He gets it!  He had a better attitude than I did, that's for sure.  

This is one of the things I am so captured by in Jacob....he is utterly unconcerned with titles, recognition or earthly acknowledgement.  He would rather have the spiritual blessing & Christ-like character.  Glory to God!  I am so thankful that God is faithful to will & to work in my children's lives and accomplish His transforming work by His Holy Spirit.