What a marvelous story, Quix. You should be very proud and thankful for both your son and that grandson. Like you in your profession, I in mine see everyday the wreckage of young lives because their parents were too self absorbed, to intent on satisfying their own worldly desires for pleasure or success to bother inculcating in the children God gave them The Faith and the desire, no, the drive, to imitate Christ.
My Greek great grandmother used to say that you have your children until they are 12. You have 12 short years to teach them everything that's really important in life. After that, the world has its shot at them. My grandparents, my parents and my wife and I took those words to heart. Our boys have thusfar turned out fine. Both have been in church virtually from the fortieth day after their birth. They are still there every Sunday. The 26 year old lawyer because he wants and needs to be, the 24 year old with Down Syndrome because he wants to "go see Jesus" and "get bread from the papas". Someday, God willing, the oldest will start in with his own children, down a path the family has tried to follow, with some success, for 1800 years.
We're blessed. It costs nothing for us to pray for those kids who didn't have what we and ours have had.
THANKS FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.
I HAVE NO OFFSPRING.
The story is from a friend via email. I thought I put at the top of the story that I just received it by email! LOL.
I have dozens if not 100's of emotional sons and daughters--some who call me GAN BABA [Dry Dad in Chinese because blood offspring are generated by . . . a wet process].
Anyway--I think it's a very touching story that happens to also be true. Actually, it's a friend of JockoManning's.
I'm AS DEEPLY BLESSED, KOLO by your story of your sons. Praise God. I agree about the 12 years, BTW. Sometimes I think it's 8 or 10 before external pressures seem to count for more IF the parental bond has been weaker than wise.
Thanks tons for your kind comments. And for your affirmations of Harley. I think I've had a unique capacity to get under his skin but I greatly respect him anyway. LOL.
LUB