A Mother’s Touch

Posted on September 10, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized, Parenting, Family |

While my husband and I waited in the Arizona airport to board our flight back home after CU’s disappointing loss to the Sun Devils, we had the occasion to talk with Neil Woelk, sports writer for Boulder’s Daily Camera. We talked all things football, which included his observations of my son, Ryan. Neil commented on Ry’s gentlemanly demeanor off the field; his polite manners, his easy personality, his willing accommodations with the press, and how inconsistent all that is with his on the field personality; aggressive, mean, nasty, big, arrogant, trash talking, and full of swagger. “It’s like he has a switch,” Neil said. “He turns that thing on and off depending upon where he is . . .” he said, thoughtfully.

Neil has been covering Buff Football ever since my husband played, and has observed Marc both on and off the field. So, he was largely perplexed about Ryan’s boisterous, rowdy and violent football demeanor having never seen it in his father, Quarter Back by nature and at heart . . . perplexed until, during our conversation, when I mentioned how in response to one of ASU’s wide receivers taking a cheap shot at Ryan’s knees, that I wanted Ryan to, and I quote, “take off his helmet and go to work on that kid.” Yeah . . . suddenly the light went off in Neil’s mind and he said, with a smile, “now I get it.” Me? I’m embarrassed, and exposed. “Yep,” Marc said in response, “I can’t take any credit for what Ryan does defensively - that’s all his mom.”

As I sat there blushing at Neil’s surprise at me, a 5′3″ football loving, tomboy acting, trash talking, er, worship leader, I was also tickled at the influence my personality has over Ryan’s. He is, at least on the football field of all places, his mother’s son. (Egad, I might want to consider working on my more feminine side . . . naaaaaaaaaaaah!)

Having a great insight into the power of family traits made me grateful for God’s DNA over my own life and how it transcends any obvious barriers too. I am God’s child; His love, His mercy, His grace, His abundance, His wisdom, His strength is mine just by virtue of His fatherhood over me. I bear His resemblance. I have His family name.

Romans 8:16, 17

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I realize that some the fingerprints we bear from the hands of our families feel more like bruises than tender touches. Maybe mom was distant and dad abusive, and that has left you battling the traces of that in your own life. Take heart my friend, God is our ultimate Heavenly Father whose love invites us into the ultimate, eternal family. Embrace that truth and you’ll be amazed at how much more you’ll start looking like your Father.

Peace and Blessings,

Nicole Walters