As I sat reading by the pond yesterday evening, Michael was splitting the trunk of a fallen tree by the creek. He called over, "Mama, look," when the young cows in the adjacent pasture were wrestling their horns together. A few minutes later, he called his little brother to come see the bizarre worms he'd found in the wood. Macklynn left using his birthday hatchet and ran over exuberantly in hopes of having something new to fish with.
In the next 15 minutes or so, the boys walked together up toward the house, Michael bearing the ax and Macklynn the hatchet as he talked about ribs they'd put on the grill and were going to check. It isn't always so peaceful or ideal, but it's what we do.
Michael started last year as a 14 year old. In trying to save his trucking business of 20 years, his Daddy was only home about 36 hours a week. As the truck began to fail and resources ran dry, Michael worked with him for days and weeks to fix the incessant problems. They'd put on their greasy clothes (pictured along with his hunting, barn, and football garb) and head out to troubleshoot. As the demise happened, we learned to do without. Michael learned humility when so many answers were "no", as he saw God provide for the things we truly did need.
He learned to do the barber's job, to cut his and his brother's "high and tight" flat tops, no easy task. He auctioned all of his calves but one before they were optimally ready because we couldn't afford the feed. He taught archery lessons and as if he were not frugal enough, he became moreso. He morphed into the "man of the house". His basketball coach, who'd wooed him to come play for the military prep school he'd attended, said that Michael didn't need to be raised by women. I agreed yet rebutted that he'd become protective of his sisters. He'd stepped up to guard and repair things of the home. He's flourished in that setting, apart from peers, not because of them.
If we'd sent Michael to that school, he'd have missed the transition of his father. It's still a huge work in progress as we adjust to the reality that God cleared the path for his Daddy to work in the ministry for Samaritan's Purse. What a turn of events! Michael, his brother, and 5 sisters now have opportunities to not only volunteer in our community the way they have been, but also to travel the country as disasters strike and actually work to help people set their homes, hearts, and lives back in order.
Again this year, Michael will help plant our large garden. Our neighbor has gone about teaching our children how to work his Percheron horse: to plow, to drive, to ride. Since his sister has been sick, he's taken it upon himself to be the "custodian" of the garden, riding his Daddy's old dirt bike over across the creek to monitor it when he's here. Michael's also volunteered as a "captain" at the summer camp we've been involved in for many years. He spent 4 weeks there last summer guiding and cleaning up after younger kids. He's hoping to go to the University of Georgia's football camp this summer, then back to "captain" again. He'll return in time to bring in much of the harvest. He's at home there, in the middle of growing things, inanimate and animate. He wrote recently that he spends his time with the Lord out in the open. All the animals, especially one of the pigs, and excepting the rooster, have affection for him as does he for them.
He passed the Hunter Safety Course and the Driver's Permit Class, where he carried the teacher's books to the car. When we were eating out recently, a waitress dropped her tray. In the crowded room, Michael was the only one who knelt to help her. What's glorious is that I didn't have to give him "the eye". You see, I want him to have a good career; but moreso, I want him to follow Christ enough to be the best husband, father, and citizen he can. Even now, he disciplines his younger siblings without my bidding.
After 2 months of the Whooping Cough, then in the close quarters of staying in a hotel for 3 weeks together while repairs were being done on our house this winter, I got to see where we need improvement. Michael has insight now into the direction his life is going and submits his will more readily to it. We found a dynamic church to join that expects its young people, not to be involved in their own group, but to be wholeheartedly involved in every facet of the church's existence. He sees value and gravity in the "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" that lies by his bed. He has, "And Then Came the Angels," a story of a young man who was shot in the head while hunting. He finds inspiration in Tim Tebow's and Tom Landry's and Jack Trice's stories. His Daddy and I have found things to captivate him in articles about Nick Saban's philosophy and Mark Richt's beliefs. He has the documentary, "Undefeatable". We watch "Facing the Giants" and "The Blind Side" and the series, "A Football Life." We expect that he'll use any podium he attains to follow the professional players who are stepping forward as examples in places like Billy Graham's organization to say, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," ~ Matthew 6:33. Michael was quoted recently after reading, "Just Friends," that he doesn't need a girlfriend because he isn't getting married until he's got a job, and in or done with college. I have the position in God's timing throughout the days to subtly pass on articles to him about the snares of pornography, debt, and foolish disregard of the fleeting time of youth ...or to simply set my Bible in front of him when I come across something I should share.
Some say a well-rounded education involves study of the classics. I say for a solemn young man, who says if he wrote a book of the Bible, it would be Jude for its brevity, that making reading material available on what sparks his flame is indispensible. I would not fashion him into a fraud with meaningless ramblings. Making material available for what he desires to do and create are equally paramount. As I watched a program with the girls a few weeks ago, Michael had been in the garage crafting a handsome knife from a steel file and a black walnut stump. Anything to do with weaponry, markmanship, pyrotechnics "fires" him up, but not quite as much as the "gridiron"does.
He's been playing football since he was 8 years old. We've moved 3 times and he's played for 5 different leagues. He won the "Defensive Player of the Year" when he played for Parks and Recreation at Union Grove (public) School and the "Christian Character" Award at Statesville Christian School - mind you he didn't even attend the school! Surely, you've ascertained by now that we homeschool ...and always have. The coach who nominated him to attend the private military academy that year did not invite any of the students at the Montessori school where he coached. Michael's a leader on the field. I've had a fellow player of his approach me at a restaurant and say, "I wouldn't have gotten through the game without Michael." The cardiologist's wife Michael's ridden to games with says, "Michael's a delight; he can ride with us anytime." He's well equipped to be received in all circles of life, young and old, affluent and not so much. And, no, he's not even missing the prom this year; he's going twice.
Michael is an upcoming sophomore. He's 6'4, 213 pounds now. His experiences and strengths have made him adept to perform well in many trades or careers, but He's honed his sites on playing college football. Last year, he played for The Pioneer League travel team, where he was the youngest player on varsity. Not only is it a burden for our large family to spend the fee, plus gas money and time to drive 45 minutes to practice, but also Michael wants more exposure to scouts by playing at a highly competitive level. He looks up routines online and under the supervision of his Orthopedic NP, he currently works out every day, including shaping up his dear old mom. A principal has made the concession to give him access to their state of the art weight room if Michael will take 2 courses on campus and 2 online, as a fulltime student. I'm glad to have that vote of confidence, except that it would inhibit the lifestyle and the ability to perform volunteer service to his fellow man, which have thus far shaped him into the young adult and entrepreneur he is, well on his way to becoming an asset to society.
Some lawmakers ask me, "Why should we give you access to a sport at a school you don't attend?" I answer, "Why not? You don't know what you're missing."
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