Instructional Manual

My living room is a complete catastrophe at this moment. Logan tends to have that effect on our house when he comes home. I’ve mostly learned to live with it since I’m always so happy he’s home, but it occasionally still puts me over the edge. Not tonight though. His timing is impeccable. He knows I’m not about to be irritated at him because he leaves early tomorrow morning for Kamp Kanukuk for FOUR weeks. And, what’s worse is that he’ll be driving ten hours to get there and when he arrives he has to turn in his cell phone. Yes, you read that correctly. No cell phone. No Internet. It will be pure torture for both of us. At Kamp, he’ll be coaching football in the morning, driving the ski boat in the afternoon, and ministering to teenage boys all day. Is that a summer job or what?!

My living room is a disaster because Logan chose to do his packing in the middle of the floor. Of course, he has complete logic for his location choice. He and Cameron are watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame. We all love old Walt Disney movies…even Brad. Shhhh! Do not tell, but he recently watched most of Bambi with me, and I know he enjoyed it as much as I did.
As I think about what lies ahead for Logan this summer, my mind just spins. How did he grow up so fast? Just thinking about it made me get all sappy so I wandered upstairs to find the journal I wrote in when I found out I was pregnant with him. Check out the journal entry from April 3, 1989. Oh my! I read through quite a few of the entries and got some very big laughs. Almost every entry revealed the same three things. I was positively head-over-heels in love with Logan from the very moment I knew I was pregnant, I was quite obsessed with gaining weight, and I couldn’t wait to choose a name. I got the biggest laugh out of reading that we contemplated naming him Webb. Really??? I don’t remember that at all. Sure glad we picked Logan instead. (Note: I’m thinking Webb must have been Brad’s idea, and I just failed to note it in the journal. Brad wanted Cameron’s name to be Elvis. Enough said.)
Anyway, my heart is just bursting with joy for the young man (sigh!) God has blessed us with, and, I’m so very thankful he came with an instruction manual. No, I didn’t read Dr. Spock’s baby book (yes, I’m clearly dating myself here!). Instead, I clung to a few verses from the Bible – which I now know to be the ultimate instruction book for raising children and for life. Please don’t think I’m being self-righteous. While I’d love to tell you I read the Bible every single day of his life, that would be a lie. But, I’ve believed Proverbs 22:6 and Proverbs 3:5 and Philippians 4:13 and many others, and I’ve prayed more prayers over Logan than I can count.
Singer Mark Harris has a song that completely captures what my heart is feeling right now. The lyrics say it more beautifully than I ever could.

It’s only for a moment you are mine to hold.

The plans that heaven has for you will all too soon unfold.
So many different prayers I’ve prayed for all that you might do.
But most of all I’ll want to know You’re walking in the truth
And if I never told you, I want you to know, that as I watch you grow
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams,
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things.
I’m here for you whatever this life brings,
So let my love give you roots and help you find your wings.
May passion be the wind that leads you through your days.
And may conviction keep you strong, guide you on your way.
May there be many moments that make your life so sweet,
Oh, but more than memories.
It’s not living if you don’t reach for the sky,
I’ll have tears as you take off,
But I’ll cheer as you fly.
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams,
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things.
I’m here for you whatever this life brings,
So let my love give you roots and help you find your wings
The journal – what a hoot!

Logan, I’m cheering you on as you fly.
No words big enough to tell you how much I love you!

2 thoughts on “Instructional Manual”

  1. Fly High Logan! It is always hard to let a child spread his/her wings, but we have to hold fast to what our own parents taught us. Even more what our Heavenly Father teaches us. I am sure Logan has and will continue to make you proud Trae. Your family is so blessed!

  2. Trae

    I am so excited for Logan. He is in for the experience of a life time! Love the song you posted too . . . had a friend from church sing that at Emily’s 8th grade graduation. Sums up all we feel as parents in such a beautiful way! Prayers for Logan as he travels and ministers to the kids!

    Love you!
    Deedy

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