This week I had a surprise conversation with my mother and siblings. A small family business venture has turned into an item of hot contention. Our disagreement lead to my questioning of what my late father would have done in the situation. My moral compass is always set that of Emanuel King and the values taught to me as a child. Following God’s plan for your life means your compass will always point north. This has made me think of a few things prior to Kaia’s arrival.
My brothers and sister are a sounding board for the values of my parents. As I am the youngest of my siblings, I spent more time following their instructions than I did my own parents. When questions of life arose for me, they were posed to Wesley and Sean first before Olive and Emanuel. The thought of a college education was first explored on trip to Long Island University and my oldest brother Michael. In 6th grade when I first discovered the opposite sex, it was my sister’s intelligence and beauty that I compared every girl I met to. My family was and still is the single most significant indicator of who I am as a person today. I am grateful and blessed to have been given such a wonderful gift.
Kaia’s siblings will play a significant role in her development. Kaia will be blessed with three older brothers who will hopefully be a sounding board for her as she grows old. Long before she brings a date home to meet me, she will seek their advice. As she struggles in being a teenager, she will pose questions to them, and will never mention a word to me. One day should my time on earth be called, it may be one of them who walk her down the isle and give her away to be married instead of me. It will be their shoulders that she will lean on in her time of need when I am no longer around.
My role as a co – parent for these three boys has now taken on another dimension. It will no longer be just about the time that they are with me that I will need to be concerned about, but the times when I am gone…. I hope the words I have spoken and the actions I have taken will reflect positively on all of these children. In my efforts to be the best father I can be for Kaia, it will mean also being a role model for these young men as they will be for my daughter. It is my prayer that as I grow into a old man (maybe even a grandpa one day), the values that my mother and father taught me will live through these sets of siblings. The conversation that will be held between them will hopefully reflect the ideals and dreams that I hold close to my heart. As they are journey through life, I pray that their compass always points north, and the path they choose will be the one that is in God’s plan. This will be a challenge that will be ever present as the days turn into years, and decades will pass… As a parent, all you can do is your best, and leave the rest in God’s Hands.
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