We really like good stories in our house. We are quite picky about what is a good story, but good stories we like, all the same. One of the criteria for something being a good story is if we can see ourselves in a character. If we can look at a character's strengths and weaknesses and see that, yes, we struggle with some of that, and yes, we are brave like that, too. Or at least we relate enough to the character to be inspired to try. A current family favorite series is the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Gimli, the dwarf, is you. You may get lucky enough to get hairy like him one day (that is your current desire, to grow a mustache that you can wax and twist around)...but his character qualities are what make he and you so similar. Throughout the story, Gimli is sure of trouble, sure of almost certain death, and he jumps in head first because it's the right thing to do. He is truth telling, justice seeking, expectantly hope filled, all the way to the victory.
Emmett, you are our truth proclaiming, justice seeking, expectant hope-filled son, and those three traits are a force to be reckoned with. If it is a right that will lead to justice, you do not hesitate and you do not waiver. Backing down is not in your vocabulary. You jump in, head first, to life and all of its' adventures, expecting that others will follow (they usually do) and expecting that great things are waiting on the other side. That is such a noble way to conduct life, Emmett boy, when you are listening to Jesus and His good and perfect plan for you.
Happy birthday, my kind and wild and generous son. I love you so.
