Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, September 12, 2021.

In Week 37 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for our son, Chris Luckett.

The first time I held our son changed me. I was in awe of this tiny human being. I took my index finger to inspect the tiny fingers of his little hands. He was squirming and his eyes were squinting, trying to adjust to the light he's seeing for the first time. As he settled in my arms, he wrapped his hand around my finger and proceeded to fall asleep. As I looked upon his entire hand wrapped around just one of my fingers, I thought, "This little person is depending on me." It was the thought that shook me to my core and changed everything. It was like an entire universe burst into existence before my eyes and I in turn suddenly became very small. It was the first time in my life that something was more important to me than me.

As he grew older, one of the things that stuck out the most about Chris was something he would consistently say as a child. Perhaps the most common question that school age children are asked by adults is, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And, Chris would answer flatly, "I want to be me." This was his response, every single time.

Authenticity has been a pursuit of Chris' from an early age. His willingness to eschew the opinions of others, to introspect and decide for himself rather than assume the prescriptions of culture or those around him is nothing less that astounding. It demonstrates a courage and integrity that inspires me every day.

From the day he was born, God has used Chris to make me question the worthiness of worldly pursuits and to challenge me to live for something greater. I'm grateful. #52WoG