This is a small portion of the letter that I wrote to my son on the day he proposed, I meant every word and sealed it with our 'mother-son' dance on his beautiful wedding day. What an amazing ride. I love being a mom!
Dear Isaac Shannon McCready-
When I first ‘met’ you all I could see was red hair…amazing to me. It was a wonder to see you on the outside, to hear your cry, and to see your red hair. It was instantly a treasure to me.
When I held you, I met your love of being close inside an embrace. When I placed you in your crib I met your passion, your anger, your refusal to submit to a life without the embrace. So I submitted for 2 years allowing you to hold my thumb until you fell asleep…on July 4th, 1996- your independence day.
I met your empathetic heart when you were 6 months old. I was holding you near a dear friend whose heart was broken, she knelt over and wept, you took your little hand and touched her shoulder to comfort her.
I met your love of music when you were 18 months old, it was Christmas time and we were driving around listening to music and looking at lights. You were in the back in your car seat when you said, “mommy, this music makes me sad.” I was amazed, again.
I met your mad hops when you learned to walk which quickly became jumping around everywhere, all the time.
Then you became a little boy…and you didn’t like it when I told you ‘no’. You wanted to find a way around the “no”. I remember sitting with you and telling you I saw the ‘little man’ that was in there trying to come out and that I welcomed him, but I needed to let him know that he was a little early and I needed him to still let me lead him for a few more years. I taught you about meekness and horse reigns for the first time. Your heart was soft….even when your siblings didn’t respect your super powers.
I met your love of friends when you played baseball and your favorite thing was the dugout with the snacks…which we forever dubbed the ‘dugout’ factor.....
and so many more treasured moments.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cling to his wife…” I remember when you were still in my womb and it had been 9 months and we had only known each other, I remember realizing it was time to share you with the world. My womb was too small for you and we were both growing uncomfortable, it was time for you to enter the world. It feels the same now. You need more room to grow and stretch and continue to become. It is time to push.
We are right here. Your family tree. We come from a strong trunk of a hundred years of faithfulness to God. We are drinking in the richness of God’s favor and blessing from generations of Godly men praying for their families and Godly women raising their children. We are right here as you birth a new branch. Remember who you are and where you are from, but more than that remember the strength of God and your passionate love for Him. Remember 6:33 every day, and pour your life out for the Kingdom of God.
And now Isaac Shannon McCready- the ‘little man’ has become an all grown up one and I see you and I welcome you! I know you and hold the memories of all your becoming. You are a prince among men, you have the calling of a King. You will always lead, so lead well. Lead with the deep love that pulses in your heart and has since you were 6 months old. Lead with the curiosity that touches and learns and discovers and presses out into new and different, unafraid and unrestrained by anything but God. Lead with mad hops- always dance and leap in your journey with the feet of faith and not fear. Lead with the companionship of your dugout friends who will stay close and care about you more than then game. Lead with brilliance and excellence and express all that you see the way you see it. Lead with laughter Isaac, the laugh that comes from faith in a God who holds the universe in his hands. You know Him. He’s got you. Laugh.
And I will be right here, meeting you in new ways and loving you every day as long as I have breath. Thank you for teaching me how to parent, and for the great honor of being your mommy.
I love you forever, I’ll like you for always.