A Picture Sent; An Email Received
Early this morning, my dad sent me an email with this picture embedded. Our relationship has grown a bit lately. I think that he sees what I am capable of and what I am trying to accomplish with the tools that the academy ordeal refined.
But…there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t remember the fondness of days gone by.
The picture made me smile because it reminded me of the promise that we felt we had, as a family. Years later, I am happy and productive. I will meet the expectations that I set for myself when my path was still easy and my road to success was defined. Today is indicative of a departure from that easy path and defined road, yet we still move along a tougher (often muddy) road with ease. My brothers are doing amazingly well at the Parson’s School in Greenwich Village and I can’t complain either. The point of this email is that there is a truth that we seldom communicate to one another. My wife expressed it in the response to the picture that I forwarded.
That is a really awesome picture, Web. I know there are days you wish you still wore polished boots and a blue uniform to work. I pray for you so often when I think about how hard that must be. My hope is that the success God grants you in this new venture will allow that longing to grow more faint with time. I love and respect you.
-Your Girl
It has been four years. Will I ever be able to say that I no longer desire to serve? There is no sum of money that I’ll make, house that will shelter my family, or car that I will drive that will ever make me forget how proud I felt as that photo snapped.