Faith and Time
Well, I am now the proud parent of a high school graduate. I have to say I wasn't sure how I felt about it until this week. I am so proud, happy, and blessed. However, I have been super emotional, and my daughter Trinity does not understand it. She said before the graduation mass last Sunday, "Mom, it's not a death. Why are you so sad?" I wasn't actually sad. I was overwhelmed, excited, scared, and maybe a little sad I guess. All of these emotions are all bubbling around on my face and in my heart and head. But last weekend was different.
Peyton Daniel Cheek is my baby and my only son. He was the first baby we brought home from the hospital. He was the tiny human who held all of our hopes and dreams for the longest time. He was the bright light that kept me going each day as I dealt with my grief over the death of his sisters. He was the spunky, red head who broke my nose with a bat when he was one because we were those parents who let their child play ball inside. He was the sweet, blue eyed boy who never slept through the night. He was the adorable, spunky, boy who had a curiosity like no other and loved learning. He was the devastated 4 year old who thought we let our birthmother hurt him when she chose to parent Trinity for 9 weeks. He was also the ecstatic big brother who wanted to know if we could, "Keep her!!" He was the boy who became obsessed with sports - baseball, basketball, and golf. He was the boy who fought through his diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome and ultimately chose a sport where all of the pressure is on him.
He is the boy who battled with his learning differences in school and excelled through high school even though he never once made the honor roll in junior high. He is the boy who cried with me and then proudly helped me ring the bell when I finished treatment for breast cancer almost 5 years ago. He is the same boy who took on the man of the house responsibilities when his father asked me for a divorce. He is the boy who worked hard and put in the time to earn a college golf scholarship. He is the boy who taught me what it feels like to love unconditionally.
He is the boy who helped me find my way back to God just by being present and never losing faith. He is the boy who wants to be cool in front of his friends but still wants to sometimes laugh and hang out with his mom. He is a young man who believes in God, who hassles me about getting up and going to mass on the weekends but still begs to go to Steubenville and Gonzaga.
He is a young man who has seen the good and the bad in life and has come out stronger for it. He is a young man who 4 years ago refused to be in a family picture of the four of us because he didn’t feel comfortable. He is a young man who has grown and matured and seen what the power of prayer and God’s love can do in a person’s life. Thank God for Peyton!! Do great things P.
