To My Son, Josiah, on His First Birthday

Saturday April 18, 2009

Son,

It’s a quarter to 10 as I write. Mom is rocking you to sleep and Liddy is getting ready to bed. (Her bedtime ritual, of course, includes spending a few moments in front of the mirror acting out something quite imaginative.)

You’re one today.

Today began around 7:10 when you began to fuss in your crib. I was startled by the fact that you were 10 minutes late (until I realized I had moved the bedroom clocks 10 minutes ahead so I’d be on-time to work during the week). I snatched you out of your crib as you rose with a lazy grin that pushed aside those plump little cheeks and revealed that three-toothed smile you’ve been sporting since the holidays. We sneaked downstairs so mom and Lydia could snooze a bit longer.

You had the usual breakfast (at least, the one I cook best): Cheerios and a few diced peaches. On this sunny Saturday morning we watched a few episodes of Sell This House before putting on one of Lydia’s old VHS tapes “Kids Sing Praise.” I remember watching this tape with Lydia when she was a tot and we lived in Holden, Maine. These little kids were singing songs all around Nashville (“The Brentwood Kids Company”, they were called.) And now we live not far from where this tape was made.

Granny and Pa Pa arrived yesterday afternoon from Michigan. They came over from their hotel (the Sleep Inn, our first ‘real’ home here in Tennessee – but that was before you). They doted on you quite a while as mom and Liddy got their day going and I took care of a few chores and ran an errand with pa (the Almaville transfer station – fun fun). By the time pa and I got back you were down for your first nap. So then Granny, Pa and I ran after some top soil for that big garden we were planting out front. We got back and piled on the garden – the one I began last fall. After a while mom brought you outside, fresh from your nap. You sat in your highchair and sorta called the shots and granny and I got the dirt in place and pa stood by you, providing you with shade. Then we all piled into the van and went to lunch at Kroger. Yes, Kroger. They had some guys out front grilling burgers, hot-dogs and ribs to raise money for the tornado victims last week. I have to say, that was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had!

Then we went shopping a bit. Mom, Lydia and Granny went shopping for Lydia while us men hit the manly stores: Kohls and Dollar Tree. (Remind me to tell you what pa-pa calls “Kohls” now; suffice it to say, it rhymes with “moles in house go pee.”) I bought two pair of shoes. At the Dollar Tree, Pa got – well – nothing, really. Liddy got a cute pair of shorts. Then we went to Lowes and got about $65 worth of flowers and plants that will probably die in their pots in the front yard. (After all, we have a rhododendron and two other flowering thingies that have been out front for two weeks now.) You fell asleep in the van with mommy sitting with you.

You took another nap at home with mom as the rest of us took Lydia to granny and pa’s hotel to swim. Then we came back and got ready for dinner. You woke up on your own and were rarin’ to go! We all drove down to a restaurant in Christiana called “Millers Grocery.” We’d never been there before but had heard it was good. We walked into this old former grocery store and were caught off guard by the very live, very loud bluegrass band. Five guys were up front just a goin’ at it on guitar, upright bass, mandolin, banjo and – of course- the man with the pimped-out washboard (with china crash cymbal, desk bell, and a few other odd noise makers). The place was packed, and in this po-dunk beacon of Americana we were promptly asked if we had reservations. I said “Yes” as pa uttered at the same time “Several!”

Nevertheless, we took our seat and you watched the band, bouncing in your seat in perfect rhythm with each song played, often waving at the band and occasionally swaying side to side – sorta like Ray Charles. (If you’d had sun glasses on and looked up with a smile, you would’ve had that nailed.) You flirted with our waitress. Her name was Bethany and she was very sweet to you. You had oatmeal and ‘puffs’ for dinner. Mom and Lydia shared a shrimp dinner. Granny and Pa had salisbury steak and I had country fried steak. It was all very tasty. The band played and sang “Happy Birthday” to you, too!

We pretty much went home after that, where mom had her chocolate raspberry truffle waiting for us to dig into. mmmmm-MMMMMM! That was good. And yes, you had a few small tastes. We missed your first window of sleep and you got your second wind (which came in as a category 2 hurricane. Not bad, really — for you, anyway). But we managed to get you upstairs and ready for bed. Mom rocked you to sleep, singing angelically to you as she always does.

Tonight she added “Happy Birthday” to her list of lullabies to you and, as she did, a few tears rolled down her face. She came in and told me that as I was finishing this letter to you.

You’re one today.

Not just one year old, though. You’re my only son, and likely the only one I will ever have. You are one of two grandsons that will carry out my father’s name, Lord willing. You are one very blessed boy, so very healthy, so handsome, so full of energy and love, laughter and curiosity.

And at this tender age you are one with the Lord, being yet unspoiled by the rebellion that simmers in the hearts of all people and separates them from God (or as it’s known by its short name: sin). But by the time you can read this letter, you will know otherwise of yourself. And I trust fully that, by that time, you will understand the remedy to that tragic condition.

Regardless of your age, I want you to be one. One, in the sense of being a person of integrity. One, in the sense of being united with God through the good news of Christ. And one, in the sense of realizing that throughout your life, you will always be my son, I will be your dad, and we will take each year, each day, each moment that the Lord provides, together.

I love you, Josiah. Mom loves you and Lydia loves you too. And even more than this – combined – God loves you.