My Wish

Jaden did it. He turned 18 on Friday. Seasons come and go. Holidays hit and leave. The tides ebb and flow. Before you know it, a year has passed and the time comes to celebrate your birth once again.

There isn't a day that goes by that Jaden doesn't say "Are you okay  Mom?" "Do you need anything?" I depend on him to unload my car when I get groceries. Usually I don't even ask. He just begins. Do you know how thoughtful that is? It is such a small gesture, yet it means the world to me.

Jaden graduated this year. The family convened at UVU to hoot and holler as my boy passed in his cap and gown. A couple of days before graduation, Goose came to me and stated that he and Daulton were going to make a lei out of dollar bills to give to Jaden to wear. I asked if I gave some cash if they would make one from Mom.

Jaden had two leis of $50 dollars each. (Which, by-the-way, it sure isn't easy to come by $100 when you are 17). Jaden walked out through the procession - with a single lei. "Where is his other lei?" "Did you give it to him?" Goose was in charge of the lei-giving and maybe he didn't give it to him. I hadn't seen their craftsmanship, maybe Goose and Daulton ran out of time and didn't get it made. What happened?

"Jaden gave it to one of his friends."

Of course he did.

That's how my kids roll. Generous and giving.

Orison Swett Marsden stated:

"Unless generosity of spirit prevails among men, there can never be upon earth an ideal life."

I think about that statement and I inevitably think about Jaden.

Jaden is still so young. Every single opportunity lies directly at his feet. He already holds the secret to the ideal life. That gift simply came to him. Check. Check. One item out of the way to grown-up-Jaden-hood.

The rest is a bit unknown. Will he be successful? Most definitely. See, success is only defined by WHO YOU ARE and what you do with the life that you have been given.

In 2006 Rascal Flatts released My Wish For You:

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you wanna go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walking' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
This is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you live,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance that you get
Find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take.
But more than anything,

...while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too.

Thank you, Jaden. Thank you for being born. Thank you for completing the Deason clan and making our family whole. Thank you for the gifts and the challenges you have brought to each. Thank you for all you bring; your inner strength; your talent; your hand-some-ness. Mostly thank you for your generous heart.

Get out there and become your dream.