Our second son is a brand new six-year-old. So much of this boy is still a mystery to me. At times his thought process seems advanced by three to four years and then other times he is clearly just a little boy. There are days when he minds so well and follows directions and walks the path he knows is right; and then there are other days when his fingers seem compelled to touch what they’re not supposed to or his emotions get the better of him when he is corrected or he just has to bug his little brothers.

Today, on his birthday, I just have to sit back and wonder.

I wonder what hidden puzzles his complex brain will solve.

I wonder what questions his deep mind will answer.

I wonder what his inquisitive fingers will assemble or fix.

I wonder what his hobbies will be, what adventures he will have, what places he will explore.

I wonder how he will further Christ’s kingdom and how many people he will tell about Jesus.

I wonder if he will be a leader of leaders and a servant of servants.

I wonder how tall he will actually be and how he will demonstrate his strength.

I wonder what his legacy will be.

And I wonder if there will always be a tender spot in his heart for his mama.

It will be wonderful to watch this boy flourish in his brand new year. It is such a beautiful responsibility to be his teacher, his guide and his mom. What a privilege to be an eyewitness to all of his firsts: his first smile and laugh, his first steps and words, his first time solving a math problem or reading a sentence, his first time riding a bike or climbing a tree, his first deep sorrow and his first great triumph. I want him to know that I’ll be his loudest cheerleader and his best encourager because he is precious to me.