Yesterday was my son’s birthday. And while I rejoice at this milestone, I am mindful he now is older than his dad, my husband, was before brain cancer swept in and changed our family forever. But I have choices. So I have chosen to concentrate on what I have left instead of what I have lost. Thus, I invite you to stroll down Memory Lane with me—-and perhaps remember special moments in your own life.
On that happy day years ago, I remember the doctor saying, “Mrs. Aldrich, you have a son” just as my baby howled at having been forced from his warm, dark sanctuary and thrust into a cold, noisy, brightly lit room. And I marveled at how those howls stopped as the perfect little human thrust his thumb into his mouth, took two or three sucks and then discarded that activity in favor of more howling.
The two nurses tending him chuckled and turned to me. “I’ve been a nurse for 14 years, and I’ve never seen a baby suck his thumb so quickly,” one said.
“And split it out so fast when he realized it wasn’t yielding anything,” the other one said. “You’ve got a smart little feller.”
I smiled. No argument there.
Now I’m remembering his impish grin as he’d feed his breakfast oatmeal to our Scottish Terrier, Duffer. And his glee as he took his first two steps into my outstretched arms. And his cute name for his baby sister when we brought her home. And how he rode the red and yellow Big Wheel cycle up and down our sidewalk for hours at a time. And the endless Knock-Knock jokes. And his love of reading but resistance to book reports. And his sweet bedtime prayers.
Yes, I wish his dad had lived to see the fine man our son has become. I know his dad would be proud of his college degree and chosen profession—-and would congratulate him on his choice of a wife. And they would enjoy discussing politics and religion and economics. But those scenes play out only in my head and my heart. And I’m back to choices. I can lament the lost experiences or I can rejoice in the Lord’s Presence and how He helped us build a new life as a family of three. Thus, I’m back to my original theme: I have chosen to concentrate on what I have left instead of what I have lost. And that choice allows me to see blessing piled upon blessing.
Hugs Across the Miles: Encouragement from an Appalachian Woman 
What a wonderful post-such sweet memories of your son. Thank you for sharing this!
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