There is a YouTuber who bike rides with his little son on his bike. and his son is 2 years old and adorable. his name is Ire. and Ire loves birds, and cars, and snacks. while riding around Ire told his father he wanted a baby bicycle. His dad stopped his bike, sighed, kissed his helmeted son on the top of his head and softly said ‘ok.’
You could see it on his face even though he was wearing sunglasses.
This is what it’s like to have your heart filled and broken at the same time.
But that’s exactly how it’s supposed to go. That’s the way I always heard it should be. That time when we give them the foundation and we teach and learn and share and have a time together that we never think will come to an end. Until it does. We prepare them for that day and forget to prepare ourselves. Ire’s internet aunties and uncles were OK when he got a scooter but asking for that bike hit different.
His father’s ‘ok’ was a few seconds in coming as he said good-bye to the beginning of the end of a very short chapter and started writing the intro to the next, He will teach his son how to ride a bike. He will take rides with his son. Together they will forge another set of memories built on the ones already there.
And so we go. We will learn what we have to learn and then let go. We have to let go in order to catch the blessing coming our way. There are only so many chances because we don’t see them all. The ones we do, we need to be ready to catch them. We empty the hands but not the heart. Always full. Always remembering. Always grateful.
*The Baptiste Pattern and hat are now available. Click the picture.