Dads and Moms and Sons
Broken windows, scratched car doors, missing shed roofs, lawns scattered with debris–stuff like that can wait. Last Friday morning, we surveyed our storm damage, left almost every bit of it lying where it was, and left town. Sometimes you just have to walk away and go have fun. Stuff can wait; family can’t. Besides, it was all here when we got back yesterday.
Each year we take a few days to get away for a Notgrass Company planning retreat. This year the timing worked out just right to have the retreat and celebrate our son John’s birthday at the same time. When we gathered, I asked John what everyone asks someone who has just flown in: “Did your flight go smoothly?”
He gave me an interesting look and answered, “No.” Turns out that the storm that hit us on Thursday night delayed 3,000 flights and canceled 700! John’s flight had two legs. One was delayed, the other canceled! It was a hurry and a worry–the stop in Charlotte, North Carolina, became a stop in Chicago–but in the end, John was only 40 minutes late. Not bad. When he finished his story, it was his turn to be surprised, since we hadn’t had a chance to tell him our storm adventure yet either!
For a little while on Friday and most of the daytime on Saturday, we met and talked and dreamed and planned. The rest of the weekend, we relaxed and had fun.
As we celebrated our mature, godly son’s thirty-five years . . .
. . . Ray and I smiled when we saw the little boy we knew long ago peek through sometimes.
John is our business manager and ably handles all the hoops businesses have to jump through. He’s quite the professional really.
But when the meetings get long and we’ve sat in one spot for too long, he gets into positions we’ve seen lots of times before.
I decided to be really silly with the party, so we had a pinata. When your name is John Notgrass and you get a slinky out of the pinata loot, this is what you do with it.
On our way to Sunday lunch, we decided to take a hike on the Cumberland Trail. When John took off as leader of the pack, Ray pointed it out to me and we both agreed, “Yep! That’s where John always was when the family took a hike.”
As Ray and I walked along, we heard a, “Hey, Mom and Dad!” We looked around and found John high above on a boulder. Here’s a normal shot. The arrow points out John.
And here’s a zoom. Now, why did I think of that time he went to the top of the holly tree when he was five years old?
So, as you watch that little boy growing up faster than you wish he would, don’t get too worried. Every man has a bit of a little boy in him. We’re glad John does. Happy Birthday, John!
A wise son makes a father glad.
Proverbs 15:20, NASB
Thank you for these blog posts! They are such an encouragement. My little boys (and girls) are growing up so quickly.