My son, Josiah Alexander Kronz, turns 13 years old tomorrow. I can remember as if it was yesterday the moment he was first placed in my arms. It was 10:00 p.m. after 15 hours of induced labor. He was 9 days overdue and still didn't want to come out! When he did, he barely cried, but instead looked around wide-eyed and curious. He and I stared at each other the entire night. I never knew how it would hurt to LOVE THAT MUCH. Josiah and I were inseparable from that moment on. He was my constant companion and I was his protector, cheerleader, and regular snuggler.
Josiah has always been cautious, always been curious, always been a peacemaker. He has the gift of discretion and the desire to please. My favorite memory of Josiah is when he was 2 1/2 years old. We had just moved to Baltimore. We were so poor, very lonely, and completely out of our element. But Josiah was content. He had his mommy and daddy who loved him beyond words, and he had (even then) his very solid faith in God. I had been downstairs folding laundry in our tiny townhouse. He had been quiet for some time so I came upstairs to see if he had fallen asleep. Instead, I found him sitting snuggly in his rocking chair by the window "reading" his Children's Bible. He was fascinated with it and completely engrossed. I stood watching him for a long time with tears running down my cheeks. I knew that this child was special, that God had something amazing planned for him. I also knew that I would never forget that picture of sweet, innocent child-like faith. I never have.
I'm so thankful that I can be on the receiving end of his strengths. He is an incredible historian with a passion for anything truly heroic. He is a patriot and a teacher. He has a desire to show loving kindness to his brother and sister (most of the time!). Every morning he sits patiently alongside his sister as he reviews with her and plays her silly games during their violin review practice. Every afternoon, in spite of the desires he has for his own free time, he seeks out his brother so that they might enjoy throwing the football or baseball together (Isaac's passion, not Josiah's). He has a heart for following the ways of God ... for learning the hard lessons of life through the learned wisdom of the prophets of old and new.
I'm also thankful that I can be there to help guide and mold the weaknesses in his life. Sometimes in the process of doing this ... I am molded also. In fact, many of the most valuable lessons I've learned in life have been learned alongside my firstborn. Through him I have gained patience, learned (and am still learning!) to tame my tongue, gained control of my temper and occasional "dithers", grown in my faith and walk with Christ, and overwhelmingly learned how joyous LEARNING can be!
So now, I say thank you Son. I'm so very, very glad that God gave you to me. You are irreplaceable in my life. I love you .... forever, and always, and NO MATTER WHAT.
Happy Birthday Josiah.
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