Published: May 30, 2007 11:18 am         

Sports column: From boys to men, letting go

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, I am moved to blow the dust off an article I wrote ten years ago for the Busy Bee paper. Being a former Marine myself and my son also, I think this story fits now as well as yesterday . Let us all remember the veterans that paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as those serving now and the price their families pay.

I remember about seventeen years ago, during a particularly rough time in my life, walking my twin sons around a pond. I had their tiny hands in each hand as we walked. They were just at the toddler stage and had just begun walking. Those innocent little dark eyes were picking up every minute image and movement. They were soaking up the world before them with no fear because their father had them by the hand and was walking with them every step of the way.

They noticed everything; butterflies, frogs, tadpoles, fish jumping, cows, birds and even snakes with awe and wonderment. I watched those tiny eyes sparkle with amazement and I realized that I had lost that innocence.

I was reminded that day that I had lost faith in my Heavenly Father or at least misplaced it. God told me that day in his own subtle way, that he would hold my hand and walk with me during troubled times as well as in good times. From that day forward, I put the pieces of a very broken puzzle back together. Grant you, turbulent times have not ceased but at least I know I have a powerful hand to hang onto and always someone to walk with me every step of the way.

This past weekend my family and my sister’s family met on the Tennessee River in north Alabama. My brother-in-law’s daddy left them a cabin on the river. We have had many short summer vacations at this place and many fond memories. My wife and I even spent our honeymoon there.

I guess I am a little reluctant to let my first son fly from the roost. Jeremiah leaves going into the Marine Corps ( Parris Island, SC.) for boot camp Sunday on Father’s Day.

At any rate the boys out fished the men this time. None of us set the woods on fire but we all had a good time. Jeremiah caught the biggest bass and I was proud for him as this will be our last family outing as we know it now.

Life just don’t seem fair sometimes and I guess there was never any guarantees of fairness. It seems you spend most of your adult life rearing your children, protecting them and holding on to them. Then you have to love them enough to let them go. I think back to that revelation I had many years ago with my boys on that pond. I think of our Savior as he hung on that cross and during those final agonizing moments, the Heavenly Father had to love him enough to let him go ( however brief it was ) for our sins.