We celebrated Parker's birthday yesterday with a little surprise. It was one year ago that we signed a discipleship covenant. So I wanted to celebrate some of the things he has achieved with more than a party. I feel like this birthday is a rite of passage.
We've had our bumps and bruises over the past year. And I'm so far from a perfect dad. I honestly feel frustrated with myself many if not most days. But I'm bound and determined not to let our culture raise my kids. I've said it a thousand times, but the greatest challenge and deepest desire of my heart is to disciple my kids.
So I took Parker kayaking around Roosevelt Island. And I set it up so that his three uncles that live here in the area would be there waiting for him. The island is a significant place for us. We hike there often. Parker caught his first lizard there. And it's a little wilderness in the middle of the city.
His uncles each gave Parker a sealed letter and a symbolic gift and spent some time talking about one of our four values. For what it's worth, I also wrote him a letter that amounts to a Father's Blessing. He also got a letter from his Grandpa Batterson. And we transcribed the prayer of dedication that his Grandpa Schmidgall prayed for him as a baby.
After each of the uncles spent a few minutes with him, I met him at the middle of the island at the Roosevelt monument. And the staging could not have been any better. On one side is a monument to youth with some amazing Roosevelt quotes. And on the other side is a monument to manhood. And Parker is literally in between those stages. He's still a boy. But he's becoming a man.
I'm praying that these letters and this place become one of his sacred altars--a place to go back to in the years to come when he needs to pray or think or reflect.
A milestone day. An Ebenezer moment.
Hiterto the Lord has helped me!
We've had our bumps and bruises over the past year. And I'm so far from a perfect dad. I honestly feel frustrated with myself many if not most days. But I'm bound and determined not to let our culture raise my kids. I've said it a thousand times, but the greatest challenge and deepest desire of my heart is to disciple my kids.
So I took Parker kayaking around Roosevelt Island. And I set it up so that his three uncles that live here in the area would be there waiting for him. The island is a significant place for us. We hike there often. Parker caught his first lizard there. And it's a little wilderness in the middle of the city.
His uncles each gave Parker a sealed letter and a symbolic gift and spent some time talking about one of our four values. For what it's worth, I also wrote him a letter that amounts to a Father's Blessing. He also got a letter from his Grandpa Batterson. And we transcribed the prayer of dedication that his Grandpa Schmidgall prayed for him as a baby.
After each of the uncles spent a few minutes with him, I met him at the middle of the island at the Roosevelt monument. And the staging could not have been any better. On one side is a monument to youth with some amazing Roosevelt quotes. And on the other side is a monument to manhood. And Parker is literally in between those stages. He's still a boy. But he's becoming a man.
I'm praying that these letters and this place become one of his sacred altars--a place to go back to in the years to come when he needs to pray or think or reflect.
A milestone day. An Ebenezer moment.
Hiterto the Lord has helped me!
5 Comments:
Mark,
Thanks for sharing about you and Parker - he sounds like one cool dude.
I really started to learn about the idea of a rite of passage from a friend of mine, Brian Molitor, he wrote Boy's Passage Man's Journey, and a complimenting one for dads and daughters.
I've been fortunate to be at a few 'rite of passage ceremonies' for young men and there really is nothing like it. We need more of it...
Michael Trent
hey mark, thanks for sharing, my son (josh) and i wrapped up our journey just a few weeks ago - if you have a chance, check out how we finished off the journey. thanks again for your leadership on all fronts!
http://www.rickwomack.com/2008/08/manhood-meal.html
thats awesome...sometimes i wish i had someone that would do this w. me...it was my bday on thursday...no rite of passage but i am now officially an adult...
Mark, you are truely an inspiration. Glad you shared this. It is so important that we dads do all we can to disciple our kids in today's culture.
My boys are only 2 and 5, but I still try to speak God's truth into them and I'm already starting the discipleship process with them, be it ever so simple at this point.
Good for you for doing what you're doing with Parker. Keep up the awesome job.
Mark - thanks for your leadership in such a critical area! The way you are discipling and fathering Parker inspires me. Thanks bro!
Marc McCartney
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