Seeing
by Laraine F. Eddington
Newlywed eyes looked down the path ahead
which gleamed like a well worn handcart trail.
We stepped forward in pioneer paths,
sure our lives would unfold in familiar ways.
Children appeared, miracle by miracle,
daughters-first and last and three boys in the noisy
middle. A full house and years that whirled faster
and faster, a tornado of work and play and church
and music and laughing and fighting and praying
and legos and books and camping and cousins
and scriptures and scouts and firesides and
faith and failure and triumph and ordinary days.
But there were moments when life screeched to
a sudden halt and hearts leapt to throats.
Our beautiful artistic boy who drew princesses
instead of firetrucks, sensitive to every beautiful
thing.
But no one spoke of anything but a straight path,
mission, marriage, children and gospel living.
Neither parent nor child dared breath out truth
until finally, a butterfly emerged and shook his
wings.
At first we dared not admire the beauty of
this newly emerged creation. It was our son, but
yet something entirely new, glistening and
shining and free.
Another son revealed himself, easier
because his brother had shown the way
And then a daughter came out into the sun.
Three of our children, blinking in new light.
We worried and wondered and prayed.
Looking for answers that were not in a handbook.
And bit by bit the blindfold slipped
until we saw them for what they are.
His.
Isaiah 43:1 …Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine
(Mark and Laraine Eddington are the parents of five children, three of whom are gay. All five are stunning, radiant and wonderful specimens of humanity. )