Dear Ethan,
Today you got baptized and I think a part of me died a little. Died to see my little baby growing up. Yes, I know you haven't been little for a long time now, I know that, I do. But milestones like this one force me to come out of denial and admit that my shrinking potion is not working and you will continue to grow despite all my efforts. You had 43 people attend your baptism. That's a lot of love. You received lots of congratulations and gifts. Watching you be baptized was so exciting and I want you to know I made it through the whole thing without crying.
Ethan, you have been such a blessing to me. I want you to know the part you play in making our family complete. Your personality is a balance to the force my friend. Your easy going, patient, and kind temperament helps our family to get along. You are always so willing to give what needs to be given and do what needs to be done to keep the peace. Ethan, NEVER STOP HUGGING ME! I would surely die. I hope you never lose your compassion for others. You have such an extraordinary ability to sense others feelings. I love your sensitivity. It is a gift.
At 18 months old, we took you to nursery at church and they couldn't have paid me to leave you there alone. I remember watching you, so worried that you'd be the child getting your toys taken away because you were too nice to fight back. Then, one Sunday as I watched you playing with a certain toy, I noticed this little girl watching you. It was obvious to me that she wanted your toy and I wondered if she was getting up the courage to snatch it from you. I looked at you and saw that you had noticed too. You looked at this little girl, looked at your toy, and then gave it to her of your own free will and choice. No other 18 month old in the history of man kind has willingly shared his toys, let alone recognized that look of longing on that girls face. That is written as fact somewhere I'm sure. I knew right then God had given me something so much better than myself. I worried about what I could possibly have to offer you.
Over the years, it's become obvious you inherited what I like to call the "silently stubborn" gene. Telling you what to do is the surest way to make you NOT want to do that thing. You want things to be of your own doing. You totally get that from your father. I LOVE people telling me what to do. (that there is sarcasm and with me as your mother, it won't be long before you recognize it).
Between the two of us, you had no hope in being a trend follower. And I LOVE that about you. You do things because you want to do it and that is another gift, I believe. I was so impressed by your desire to be baptized. And I know your father and I did not push you into it; we were the ones wanting to put it off. You tearfully asked why you couldn't be baptized right now and I was immediately plunged into a pool of guilt for asking you to wait longer. You are an example to me too.
Ethan, being baptized means you now have the gift of the Holy Ghost. I told you the other day that learning to listen to the Spirit takes time and practice. I'm not so sure that will be the case with you. I'm pretty convinced that for you, having that companionship is like having an old friend return. You have had a sense of right and wrong from the beginning and as much as I'd like to take credit for it, I can't without feeling like lightening could strike me any second.
For your baptism, they asked me to answer some questions that they were going to use to introduce you. Well, that Sister totally messed it up so I want to tell you again how I have seen you live the gospel.
I see you living the gospel everyday in how you treat your little brothers. They way you protect them, teach them, and play with them emulates every aspect of Christlike love. You always jump up if you see Corbin heading for something he shouldn't and you're always so willing to watch him when I need you to. You are so loving toward him and he does love you back, it's just that his way of showing it right now is to whack you in the face. Don't worry, he does it to me too.
You always include Noah when playing with your friends. I don't think you realize how much he loves and benefits from that. He knows he has a brother that will be his friend as well. That will mean more to you when you're older, I promise. You are a great example to him, he literally copies everything you do and while I know that puts extra pressure on you, I hope someday you will appreciate the great love he has for you.
I hope you enjoyed your baptism day as much as I did. You have a lot of people that love you.
Well, this is long and I've certainly asserted my bragging rights to the fullest. Some day, you will appreciate this more than it embarrasses you.
I love you always,
Mom
2 comments:
Misty- you sure know how to make this girl cry. You really wrote a beautiful post about Ethan and his baptism day. It really was a great day and I couldn't hardly believe that my little nephew was old enough to get baptized. It made me feel old and also wonder when did my cute little nephew Ethan grow up and become a young man. Thanks for letting us share that day with you and him.
I have to agree with everything that you wrote about. Ethan is one of the most giving and kind people I have ever known. As you well know, Hannah clings to him, wants to sleep next to him on family vacations or sleepovers, but he never complains and lets her follow him around.
When we were at our family vacation at the cabin, I looked at Hannah holding Ethan's hand and she asked him "Ethan, can I please sleep next to you tonight?" Then of course Ethan said yes. After I saw that I went up to Ethan and told him that he was so sweet to always do stuff with Hannah. I told him that Hannah will probably always be clingy to him and there will come a time when they are teenagers when he might get tired of Hannah hanging around him and this was his reply "Aunt Steph, I will always let Hannah sleep next to me or play with me, even when I'm really old." What a sweet kid. You sure did luck out! :) Love ya!
Well, you might have made it through the baptism without crying but I don't think I did. Nor did I make it through your posting without getting teary eyed. Maybe it's the hormones from pregnancy. J/K. I'm not pregnant. Seiously though, you have an angel and we are all thankful he is the oldest grandchild as he set the example for all of our children. We love him so much. I've been working on a shrinking potion as well and it is failing. Let me know if you ever get one that works. It really does go by way too fast doesn't it!
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