Wednesday Wisdom

So my wife and I started our family "late" according to convention. We were married 11 years before we welcomed our oldest into this world. Almost exactly two years later, boy #2 came along. 

Both have taught us a lot of lessons. Lessons people talk about plenty but only parents really know. So I realize I'm not breaking new ground here but one parental observation hit me today.

Our youngest is turning into a real unique individual person. 

Astonishing right?

So, he's got ear and eye infections along with being contact-traced at daycare which means our routine is upended and he's hanging out with dad a bunch. 

Being our second, he has more or less been a tag-along as he's grown up. His big brother is more active and naturally advanced meanwhile #2 is just along for the ride. 

Well, as I tried to get some study in and work done from our church nursery today, I suddenly recognized, "this little man is his own dude". He's at a fun stage where his personality is starting to show and he can communicate verbally just enough.

I'm thankful they get along with each other pretty well. I'm thankful for a great wife to share this privilege of a burden (or is it burden of a privilege) with. And I'm thankful for my little guy who's growing and learning and proving to be both a handful and a blessing.

Postscript: This is kind of dumb but I notice a lot of parents don't use names or post many pictures of their kids online for often unspoken but understood privacy and security reasons. I don't buy it all 100% but abiding by those principles nevertheless.

Wednesday Wisdom

Yikes, it's been almost exactly a month since I posted. 

Not that the world is desperately clamoring for my perspectives on things, but I do intend to be disciplined with regular posts here. 

In my defense, I'm working through my third week battling pneumonia. I feel like the worst is over thanks to antibiotics and meds. 

It has certainly thrown me for a loop though. And I've certainly had extra time to take stock of things and think through lessons and reminders God may be wanting to show me.

Here are a few:

• Rest is both good and essential. Unsurprisingly, this illness has made me tired and worn out on a daily basis. That's kind of what pneumonia does. Thankfully my wife allowed me to take extra naps often at random times and away from the chaos of our toddler boys. I was mostly home-bound and had to miss two Sundays at church as well. It was good to have a break in my regular routine. It was good to remember there are limits to my energy and capacity to do things. Busy-ness is not a fruit of the spirit. Sabbath rest is still a critical principle of discipleship. It allows for both my body and spirit to heal and recharge.
  
  
• My church is filled with capable people. I love the smaller community God has placed us at. And when this illness set in, the last-minute prep was fairly smooth. Responsibilities got covered, sermons were preached, fellowship still happened. My church needs me, but they don't NEED me.
  
  
• I need to accept my newer, older identity. Ever since I was a kid, I had above average athletic endurance ability. That's very specific but here's what I mean. I always found myself able to run long distances or play sports for long periods of time without feeling like I was dying of fatigue. I was usually one of the top runners in the elementary gym class mile run they always had us run. I had fun playing basketball for long hours and found myself able to keep my energy up when others tired. In addition to basketball, I ran track in college and though the season was already underway, I was able to be fairly successful at the 400 hurdles (an ideal race for someone who isn't speedy fast, doesn't have time to build up endurance for long races, but can do a little bit of both). Even after my college years, I stayed active regularly playing recreational basketball, slow pitch softball, and staying in semi-decent shape. As I've hit my late 30's and now into my 40's, I've noticed more physical limitations. It is harder to stay in shape and other family priorities get in the way of those activities I once participated in. And now this pneumonia really made reality set in. I could barely chase my boys around the living room without having to catch my breath. Bouncing back from being winded has been hard. Now I hope to be able to stay in some kind of active shape once this is past. But I'm more and more resigned to the fact that a part of my identity - being physically capable of doing stuff and not tiring - is changing. My pride has and is taking a hit. And I need to adjust.
  
  
• I can be grateful this isn't worse. I was worried at the beginning I'd contracted COVID. That worried me not just for myself but because I had been around a bunch of people that week. Thankfully, two tests showed I was negative. But I had some restless nights where coughing made rest rare and breathing was labored. During this same time, three people I know have gotten COVID and all had severe symptoms. One even passed away. I am ok, my family is healthy, and getting medical attention was pretty effective and not super expensive. I am grateful it has not been worse.