Kids these days...
This night, December 27th, 2011, I declare that the world is and will be a better place than ever before. I know it is hard to believe but I am telling you right now...this is the truth. The fate of our world...not just our country... lies in the hands of the group in my living room, who all brought gag gifts for a "White Elephant Christmas" party. No kidding...
The door bell rang and one by one, they walked into the kitchen and loved on one another. They have been connected since kindergarten...and what feels like to me, the beginning of time. It goes without saying that they are beautiful and handsome...in the regular ways...straight teeth, great hair, beautiful faces...the whole package...but what really strikes me tonight is the unconventional ways that they are beautiful and handsome. And to be honest, it seems like they just don't care too much what people think.
There are tatoo's, and tons of piercings...noses, ears and other things that I didn't even ask because it doesn't matter. This body art makes them different and daring and who they are and who they are becoming.
They left for college and came back with ideas. Ideas on what the answer is to the hurt in the world. They are learning spanish, arabic, how to teach, how to engineer, how to protect our country, what is helpful for the environment and how to share what they believe God is in the world. They are all so different and came from different backgrounds. And despite the difference in their beliefs...they love each other and would lay down their life for each other.
I know that you can read this and think that they have no idea what it is to be an adult. They haven't lived life. But they have, at least some of the cruelness of what life can deal a person. They lost dear friends in car accidents, have watched parents fight cancer, and have watched fairy tales end upbruptly because of war. They know that life is cruel and if there is anything they can do to make it less so...they are going to do it.
I walk down to pop pizza in the oven and see the seating arrangements. They are so pleased to be together. There are loud bursts of laughter when a gift is opened and then a loud discussion. They sit close and seem to all be touching at some point...not in a "holding" way but they are just comfortable with the feeling of each other and being close. They have been that way for many years before they left to find greener pastures.
Last year at this time, they were here and I am so glad that they are here again. I feel like I am watching history...the goodness in the world and the future of this world. They love freely and deeply, they give of themselves and ask for nothing in return.
I know this sounds like every parent with a college student that is "going to make the world a better place" but with this group, I really believe it. They are special and I know that if I keep my eyes open, there are millions of teenagers like the ones in my house tonight. This group loves humanity, despite the differences and the similarities. These guys get what things in life that matter...to love one another and we will have peace. I'm gonna hang with them!
We'll tawk tommorrow,
I love you all,
Terry
The door bell rang and one by one, they walked into the kitchen and loved on one another. They have been connected since kindergarten...and what feels like to me, the beginning of time. It goes without saying that they are beautiful and handsome...in the regular ways...straight teeth, great hair, beautiful faces...the whole package...but what really strikes me tonight is the unconventional ways that they are beautiful and handsome. And to be honest, it seems like they just don't care too much what people think.
There are tatoo's, and tons of piercings...noses, ears and other things that I didn't even ask because it doesn't matter. This body art makes them different and daring and who they are and who they are becoming.
They left for college and came back with ideas. Ideas on what the answer is to the hurt in the world. They are learning spanish, arabic, how to teach, how to engineer, how to protect our country, what is helpful for the environment and how to share what they believe God is in the world. They are all so different and came from different backgrounds. And despite the difference in their beliefs...they love each other and would lay down their life for each other.
I walk down to pop pizza in the oven and see the seating arrangements. They are so pleased to be together. There are loud bursts of laughter when a gift is opened and then a loud discussion. They sit close and seem to all be touching at some point...not in a "holding" way but they are just comfortable with the feeling of each other and being close. They have been that way for many years before they left to find greener pastures.
Last year at this time, they were here and I am so glad that they are here again. I feel like I am watching history...the goodness in the world and the future of this world. They love freely and deeply, they give of themselves and ask for nothing in return.
I know this sounds like every parent with a college student that is "going to make the world a better place" but with this group, I really believe it. They are special and I know that if I keep my eyes open, there are millions of teenagers like the ones in my house tonight. This group loves humanity, despite the differences and the similarities. These guys get what things in life that matter...to love one another and we will have peace. I'm gonna hang with them!
We'll tawk tommorrow,
I love you all,
Terry
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