The Roots We Leave Behind

God has given me another gift in a son.

When Myles was born, I remember feeling like life had changed overnight. Not because everything suddenly became easier or because I had all the answers, but because I realized somebody was watching me now. Somebody was going to learn from what I did more than what I said.

Now, here I am again.

A father of two sons.

To be honest, it’s a feeling that’s hard to explain. It’s exciting. It’s humbling. It’s a little scary if I’m being real. But more than anything, it’s a blessing.

As I look at Jax and look at Myles, I can’t help but see pieces of myself. Not just in how they look, but in the opportunity God has given me to look in the mirror. Fatherhood has a way of doing that. It forces you to slow down and think about the things that matter. It makes you look at your strengths, your flaws, your habits, and your priorities a little differently.

But this journey isn’t just about me.

It’s about Evelyn and me.

We’ve been growing together since we were kids ourselves, and now we’re raising kids of our own. Every season has brought something new for us to learn, and this season is no different. We don’t have everything figured out. We won’t always get it right. But one thing I know for sure is that we’re going to keep showing up for our boys and for each other.

When I look at the tree in the image above, I think about family.

People usually notice the branches first. They notice how tall the tree has grown or how far it stretches. What they don’t always see are the roots underneath. The roots are what hold everything together when the storms come.

That’s what I want for our family.

I want our roots to run deep. Deep in faith. Deep in love. Deep in grace. Deep enough that when life gets hard—and it will—we’re still standing.

I don’t know exactly what being a father of two sons will teach me yet.

I don’t know all the lessons waiting for me down the road.

Maybe those answers won’t come until I’ve traveled a little farther and made my way back to shore a few more times.

But today, I’m grateful.

Grateful for Evelyn.

Grateful for Myles.

Grateful for Jax.

Grateful that God saw fit to trust us with these two young lives.

And grateful for the opportunity to continue growing right alongside them.

— DQ