Calvin’s confirmation.

My little boy (affectionately known as slaveboy to some of my AOL friends) is making his confirmation this evening. For the record this child is now 14, weighs about 185, 5’8, and definitely needs to shave a few times a week! At Christmas he wore a shirt, tie, coat and dress slacks… and looked dashingly handsome if I do say so myself!!

On the inside though, he’s still a kid. He teases his sister, torments his brother, bedevils his grandma and is giving me a streak of gray hair that will rival that of Lilly Munster. There have been times I wanted to just cancel his confirmation because I didn’t think he was ready. I know, that’s silly. I myself was confirmed when I was baptized as an infant and looking back, maybe I have needed that extra grace all long.

Beneath the “I’m a teenager, deal with it” facade, I think there is a nice person. One that cries at sad movies (although he’s pretty good at hiding the teary eyes and choked up voice,) one that gives his little brother a ride on his back, or shovels the walk without asking. I know he, ready or not, he is going to need this extra help from the Holy Spirit as he enters high school and beyond. Our family needs him to have this grace too.

It was Calvin’s idea to have Damien as a patron saint for confirmation. I think he found his heroism extraordinary and yet simple and I think in some ways maybe that influence is guiding his life in a way I haven’t even dreamed up yet.

I think I’ll probaby cry a bit tonight. That’s OK, I’m supposed to. Crying from pride for the man he is becoming, crying at the loss of the little boy he was, and crying with gratitude to God for giving me the opportunity to be the mom for this one, and all that goes with it!

Please sign my Spiritbook (guestbook) at the bottom of the page.