From the very first conference I ever attended for Rory, from preschool until high school graduation, I would always hear the same compliments about my son. "He's one of the kindest. He's a great leader. He looks out for those who feel left out and makes sure they are included. Kids follow Rory. He gets along with everyone." I would of course, enjoy every bit of it. He is my son! And I know these things to be true of him. But always following the compliments, there would be a short pause and then I would always be told something to the effect of, "But Rory talks a little bit too much." And, my response would always be the same. I would say, "You know, but someday that is going to be an attribute!" And then I would come home and tell Rory all the wonderful things I heard, and follow it up with, "But honey, you are talking too much!" Now, this is not something that I am completely unfamiliar with. I am and have always been the talker in my own family. I can remember being rewarded little colorful sticky stars in the 1st grade on the days I would not chat so much. No doubt my poor mother heard the very same things about me, that I needed to talk a little less, pay attention a little more. At some point, I just began to anticipate these comments at the end of every parent teacher conference.
In the beginning of 2010 Rory was preparing to graduate from high school. He had already become very involved in church. He was volunteering an incredible amount of his time, had been on a few mission trips that he testifies today changed the entire course of his life. Rory had a very close relationship with God and was mentoring younger children. He had accepted Christ and gotten saved a couple of years before that and his journey was much like anything else Rory sets his mind to get involved in. He was in a high speed chase after God's own heart. And this was evident to anyone who knows him. And just like every teacher I had ever had a parent-teacher conference with had said, people were following him. Rory got many of the kids on his football team to church. He helped coordinate events that would include the special needs kids and their parents, at sporting events and other activities. He was standing in front of crowds telling his peers how important abstinence is, and not falling into the crowd and succumbing to peer pressures of alcohol, drugs, and sex. He even led a kid to Christ in our parking lot one night.
When all of this was happening, Rory was also facing the pressure of deciding what to do immediately following graduation from high school. He had the opportunity to accept a scholarship to play football that would have paid for much of his college. But Rory also clearly heard God telling him to do an internship in youth ministry. At one point, I remember him having a list of pros and cons to both decisions. If God was calling him to ministry, the future was unsure. I watched him struggle and sweat through the pressures of everyone telling him what he should do, including myself. In the beginning all I could think of was the money. I worried about how he would ever pay for college. I worried about him throwing away his dreams of becoming a special education teacher. I worried about him throwing away a football scholarship. I worried about him trying to intern and go to college at the same time. When I prayed, I prayed for God to tell him to take the scholarship and play football. Until one night when I was coming home from work on a Wednesday evening and decided to go to church, 45 minutes into the service. At the end, I approached our pastor and shared with him Rory's struggle, and my struggle with it as well. We prayed together, and when he prayed, he prayed that God would lead Rory where he wanted him, that Rory would hear God clearly, and that I would accept whatever Rory's calling was. I knew driving home that night how selfish I had been in my prayers regarding his future. And I immediately started to pray for God's will, and my courage to accept it, and to trust Him completely. And I also realized at that point, that it was important for Rory to learn to trust God completely, and for him to see that trust in me as well.
It was a couple of days later I would be driving down Weybridge Street by our house. My mind was wandering (like it often does), and I was not even thinking at that time about Rory's decision. I can remember clearly exactly the spot on that road I was when God spoke to me and reminded me that at every single parent-teacher conference I had told every teacher, "Some day, that will be an attribute!" and then God clearly told me, "I have prepared him for this."
That evening, before Rory would even know of my encounter, he would return home struggling with a decision. I had never seen him struggle like this before, and have not seen him struggle like it since. Rory was really upset that evening over his decision. My women's small group was due to come over in a couple of hours. I told Rory to gather up all of his paperwork, for the internship, for the scholarship, etc., and go somewhere quiet and pray over it, even if it took him 6 hours. And I gave him this scripture to pray about:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Colossians 3:23
Rory returned about 4 hours later. After a few months of struggle, it was the first time I had seen him literally covered in peace (you know, that peace that surpasses all understanding??). He visited a little while with our small group. I remember him praying with us before everyone left. And then when we were alone, he looked at me, tore up the scholarship paperwork and decided to do the internship.
Rory is currently finishing his 2nd year as an intern and has enjoyed it and has grown into one of the most Godly men I know. He is still undecided where he will transfer to in the fall, or what he is going to study and do for a living, but he does not worry like he used to. He is still interested in teaching. He makes all of his decisions prayerfully and KNOWS that God will tell him where to go, what to study. And wherever God plans to use him, Rory will work at it with all his heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. He is a man after God's own heart. And when I'm sitting in my living room, and all I can hear is the sweet sound of Rory's voice belting out praise songs to his God all by himself in the basement as if no one is around, all I can sit back and think of is, "Yeah, someday that will be an attribute."
There is nothing more exciting than having your son say "Yes Lord, here I am!" to God, and then just sitting back and watching the wild ride He takes him on.
Happy 20th birthday, Rory!
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