explaining the world to my son....

I woke up this morning to the news of another mass shooting. I rarely bring up or discuss any of this on social media but this morning something changed for me. If I had to pinpoint something it would probably be the interview I saw of the father who lost his first born son in the shooting. He wept and talked and wept some more and my guess is that he is still weeping…still trying to make sense of it all…trying to understand how this could happen to his son.

Each morning I help my wife get our son ready for school and together we chase him around the house, laugh and smile with him and then as Grayson is getting ready to walk out the door I whisper in his ear something I have said to him since the day he was born. I build him up with my words; believing that even at his young age he needs to hear that his father loves him, believes in him and that God has amazing things in store for his life.

I work at a university. Like many professors across the country, the place that we once thought of as a safe haven…a place to learn, to grow…we now can’t help but wonder, “could it happen here?…could I be saying goodbye to my wife and son for the final time as I leave work?” I’m not sure what the answer is and i’d rather not get into some political conversation about it. What I do know is that the day will come sooner than I would like that I have to explain this world…especially the country in which he lives, to my son. I have to find the balance to encourage him to not live in fear but to always be vigilant of his surroundings.

Tonight I walked into my sons room and just sat for a few minutes as he slept. I’m thankful that I still have the ability to watch over him and protect him…to pray over him and whisper…”I love you, my son. Remember, God has amazing things in store for your life.”