My Boy, Lewis - What I Want

All three of them are born from Greg and I, yet they are all so different.

Lewis - he has been texting me from school this morning.

"Can u call the school code tell them to tell ms zipfel that i can watch the movie?" (don't know what "code" means...)

I answer, "What movie?" (he obviously forgot to have me sign a permission slip....)

Lewis: "O the movie is kite runner" (so I check online to see what this movie is about...)

I call the school and leave a phone message for Ms. Zipfel. I write Lewis to tell him I took care of it.

Lewis: "Thanks mom love u!"

I write him back to remind him to go see his guidance counselor about a class he's supposed to be taking to graduate on time in May.

Lewis: "Ok o i got my school pictures!" (Do you think he'll remember to go see Mr. Burman, the school counselor?)

Lewis: "Ill show u when i get home luv v" (I think he means "u").

Lewis is a 17-year old sweetie. Has a great smile after getting those braces off. He's not on any organized sports team, but he's everybody's 1st pick on the open field. He is intently interested in geography, history, and now politics. He is NOT interested in homework, cleaning up after himself, and eating healthfully.

Back in kindergarten, Ms. Lauer said, "Lewis marches to the beat of a different drummer." How true. Spoken like a prophet. I know that God has a great plan for Lewis, and Lewis will do well in whatever area he decides to focus on. But I wonder if we, Greg and I, have created an environment where he won't want to leave? Have we made living at home so comfortable that he won't try life on his own? When I was his age I hated being at home! Lewis hardly leaves, unless it's for school or work.

The move to Wichita was a hard one for Lewis especially last year. He left behind quite a few (hundred) friends, as Greg and I did as well. I wonder if Lewis might still be trying to "find" himself here - which social circles he belongs and is accepted in, how far to venture in a city four times the size of the one we left, etc.

As a mother, I want what's best for Lewis. But also - I want Lewis to want what's best for Lewis. I want Lewis surrounded by friends that bring out the best in him. I want Lewis to ...

But it's not always about what I want... It's about what God wants and how Lewis, and his mother, will submit. The Bible tells me that God has great plans for Lewis; plans to prosper him, not to harm him (Jer. 29:11). The Bible says no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9). The Bible tells me that Lewis is wonderfully made...each day Lewis lives has been determined by God Himself in advance (Psalm 139). The Bible tells me that God has a job description for Lewis to do good things (Eph. 2:10).

I believe Lewis will always march to the beat of a different drummer, to a sound different and maybe unfamiliar to those around him. And I hope his dad and I will be right there on the sides of the parade encouraging him and spurring him on to be the best he can be, whether he's living at home or not. That's truly what I want...