Twenty five years ago.
Where were you 25 years ago? Some may say “I wasn’t even born”, others may say “1996…I was dancing under the stars to Celine Dion’s number one hit ‘Because you loved me’”…well, maybe not that lovey dovey, but then again…. I can tell you exactly what I was doing. Tim and I were in the Arnold Palmer Hospital, watching March Madness, and having our first child.
We had no clue what we were doing. Tim and I were 27 years old and were about to become parents. Sometimes I wonder if I have a clue what I’m doing now, but one thing I do know is PRAYER. Prayer and our faith in Christ has gotten us through each stage in our lives and the lives of all three of our kiddos.
At this time, we have children ages 19, 22, and 25. I’ve told many parents that I believe this age is the most difficult. Difficult in the fact that all kiddos are adults. The consequences to their actions are huge. We, the parents, are not in control any more. Praise God He always is and has been.
Bless our first born’s heart. Hunter had to be our “guinea pig” as we maneuver through the life of parenting. He was an easy baby! I was leaving detailed instructions for the grandparents while I worked, as if they had never raised kids before.
Over my years of journaling, I’ve shared how Hunter was our rollercoaster child in life. It wasn’t for the fact that he was and up and down child, but for Tim and I learning to be a parent at each stage, I believe we were the curvey, up and down tracks. Hunter was just along for the ride.
Now, Tim and I have laid the track that leads straight to Jesus. We are now just observers as Hunter continues to ride through life.
Prayers continue…on our knees and at times I’m flat on my face…but this method of parenting continues and will never stop.
We are proud of the man that Hunter is becoming. He is the life of the party. Everyone loves Hunter, and tells us how respectful he is. For others to love your child and say great things about your child’s (adult-child) character makes a parent be filled with joy and satisfaction.
As Hunter turns a quarter of a century today, I pray Romans 15:13 for him:
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Hunter, we pray that you will always put your trust in the Lord. He has such great and perfect plans for you. The Lord will fill you with abundant joy. Not happiness. Happiness is an external emotion and can be temporary. Joy comes from within and is eternal, even through difficult times in life. Hunter, as a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit in you. Listen to your “God conscious “ (the Holy Spirit) and you will ride through life with your hands up on the rollercoaster ride of life.
Hunter, I also pray that you will tap into all the characteristics that the Holy Spirit fills you with: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Actually, don’t just tap into it, but overflow with it all.
But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Galatians 5:22-23
Thank you, Hunter, for being our first born. Thank you for being patient with your dad and I as we learn to parent together. We may have (and will) let you down at times, but always remember that The Ultimate Parent (God) will NEVER let you down.
Take the lyrics to that 1996 number one hit by Celine and let it be words spoken to you from God:
Just believe in Me
I will make you see
All the things that your heart needs to know
HAPPY 25, HUNTER SHUFF!!! WE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!
Below…the year in the life of Hunter. Looks like a whole lot of hunting, fishing, and fun.
