We’re almost to the 30-week mark of Angie’s pregnancy. I get to feel Samuel kicking, turning cartwheels, and giving me high-five’s when I put my hand on her stomach. Last night we painted the nursery. The bedding is in. We’re slowly stockpiling diapers and getting ready for the big day.
While painting last night, my mind began to wander and I started asking myself questions that can only be answered as time unfolds.
- What’s Samuel going to look like?
- Will he sleep through the night?
- Will he like his room?
- Will he play baseball?
- Can I convince Angie to let him play football?
- Will he be an introvert like the rest of us?
- Will he have bright blond hair like I did?
- Will he be born with hair at all?
- Will he be crafty and creative?
- Will he hate sweet potatoes like I do?
- Will he like me? Will he want to hang with his Daddy?
- Will he be godly?
- Will he find a godly wife?
- Will I be a good Dad to him?
I don’t have answers, just questions, but it’s fun asking them right now. I’m getting a little nervous, a lot excited, and quite giddy. I can’t wait to meet you Samuel David! We’re gonna have an awesome time!
This is adapted from a sermon based on Judges 13
I really don’t have to belabor the point of how morally confusing these times are, do I? We hear the news. We read the stats. And we know how tough it is to be growing up in this present culture. That’s how things were for Israel when Samson was born.
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The last couple of weeks have been rather interesting at the Cox house. Angie has begun a new career teaching Bible at Life Way Christian School in Centerton, just a few miles away, and Ella started second grade there today. Though Angie will take Ella with her each day, I had the privilege of delivering her to her new classroom today. All I can say is she seems a little bit less like a little girl each time we do this.
For me, I’ve remained a little emotional about it throughout the day. I’m not sad that she’s growing up, though that’s probably Angie’s feeling. Rather, I’m afraid of that day when I won’t be able to protect her. She’s a bit timid and had a difficult time when we got to the classroom. It reminded me of what a comfort zone her parents are to her. At least for now.
Over time, she’ll become a little more independent. Someday she’ll drive herself to school. Someday she’ll move off to college. Someday…
At the end of these thoughts I’m reminded that instead of wishing away the present, or dreading the future, perhaps we should enjoy each and every moment we have with the precious people in our lives. I can’t even begin to express, in this single blog post, just how thankful I am for the gift of Ella Grace, nor can I convey how proud I am of my wife. For both of them, this is a great new adventure with a lot of scariness thrown in for effect. That’s life, isn’t it? It’s how God grows us – by facing down all the scariness with faith, we learn how to run with confidence.
Who knows what else this year may bring?!
Every year, there is this week that falls right in the middle of summer. I call it “VBS week.” It’s a week when we have VBS, fittingly (Vacation Bible School). Here’s how it goes… wake up late cause you’re exhausted from the night before, spend all day doing work and getting ready for VBS, survive the evening’s whirlwind of activities, go to bed, wake up late and repeat!
This isn’t a complaining post though, it’s actually a praise. I love VBS week! It’s exhausting, but it’s exhilarating! It’s stressful, but it’s such a blessing. Last night, I had to get onto a little girl who was high on sugar and couldn’t sit still. She kept trying to dive into the burning bush during my lesson. The last time I explained that it could burn her (a light bulb in it, not a real fire) she looked up at me and latched on to me – gave me a big hug!
So let me put it plainly – kids are worth it! I wouldn’t trade VBS week for much of anything!… I’d just give the kids less sugar.
So yesterday my daughter had a field trip to one of our city parks. I had planned on meeting her there to do all that fun “Daddy stuff” Dads do, like push their kid in a swing or push them down a slide (gently, of course). Instead, I was presented with an interesting problem…
Ella had buried her shoe! That’s right, just for the fun of it, she had buried both of them in the sand in two different places. An hour and a half before I showed up, teachers and kids were searching in vain for the lost shoe.
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I'm a Christian, a Pastor to 
