As I sit down to write this hours later, I’m still on the verge of tears.  The day began meeting my kids at church who had their two boys with them, one adopted, one in the process.  As I see the progress made by our new grandson, his newfound self assurance, his love for learning and his fearlessness in building relationships it just fills my heart.  And now there is this new little guy who has struggled so much and is now beginning his journey with a loving family.

Today was his birthday and last night we celebrated at the ultimate place for a child’s birthday, with bowling, arcade games, pizza and cupcakes.  A little overwhelmed by the family and surroundings, he frequently looked for mom for reassurance.  Today as I said, we met them at church and while the older boy went on to Sunday school, the younger sat with us in “big” church.  Several times I caught him looking at mom with such love and adoration, putting his little hand in hers or leaning his head on her arm.  I was so struck by the trust he had built with her in such a short amount of time, how much he relied on her for security.  How many times are kids in my classroom looking for something similar, whether reassurance that someone cares about them or that they can be successful in school or that they can do something they’re afraid to try?

We were invited to lunch, a place the birthday boy had chosen, a Japanese restaurant where the chef would proceed to entertain us with his culinary skills, his shrimp tossing into people’s mouths skills and his ability to set fires without burning any of us in the process.  These brought smiles to the birthday boy’s face along with some not-so-sure looks, where he again would look up to mom for reassurance that he was safe and this was all ok.  At the end of the event was a glitzy recording of happy birthday with popper streamers, flashing lights, a lei and a tambourine, and finally, a candle set into an orange on a pineapple boat.  It was quite the production with the birthday boy smiling almost throughout.  A family picture was taken and several handed out to us.  In a quiet moment, as the photo was passed to the birthday boy, he looked at it and said “I will never forget this”.   Again, the tears well as I think about this.   A day full of things that everyone at the table took for granted were being absorbed by this little boy as though it might not happen again.

I think about how many things in life that I take for granted and I am ashamed.  Life and experiences with people are such a blessing and I think about how much time I spend working or looking at a screen, taking the people around me for granted as though they will always be there.  The most frustrating thing about this is that while today’s events were truly moving, chances are I’ll drop back into my usual habits and stop looking for the extraordinary within the ordinary.  I want more of those moments in my life where I just look down and say I will never forget this.

Right now I’m watching the Golden Globes and Jeff Bridges is receiving a lifetime award. He just said something that seems to fit.  We’re all alive and “we’ve all been tagged – we’re it!”   It’s time to be making a difference, to take advantage of those little unforgettable moments in life, to appreciate them.  I look at my young adult children and see them making such a difference in people’s lives and I’m so proud and at the same time challenged to do more myself.  Perhaps to help create moments for others that they will never forget.