We celebrated Parker’s birthday yesterday with a little surprise. It was one year ago that we signed a discipleship covenant. So I wanted to celebrate some of the things he has achieved with more than a party. I feel like this birthday is a rite of passage.

We’ve had our bumps and bruises over the past year. And I’m so far from a perfect dad. I honestly feel frustrated with myself many if not most days. But I’m bound and determined not to let our culture raise my kids. I’ve said it a thousand times, but the greatest challenge and deepest desire of my heart is to disciple my kids.

So I took Parker kayaking around Roosevelt Island. And I set it up so that his three uncles that live here in the area would be there waiting for him. The island is a significant place for us. We hike there often. Parker caught his first lizard there. And it’s a little wilderness in the middle of the city.

His uncles each gave Parker a sealed letter and a symbolic gift and spent some time talking about one of our four values. For what it’s worth, I also wrote him a letter that amounts to a Father’s Blessing. He also got a letter from his Grandpa Batterson. And we transcribed the prayer of dedication that his Grandpa Schmidgall prayed for him as a baby.

After each of the uncles spent a few minutes with him, I met him at the middle of the island at the Roosevelt monument. And the staging could not have been any better. On one side is a monument to youth with some amazing Roosevelt quotes. And on the other side is a monument to manhood. And Parker is literally in between those stages. He’s still a boy. But he’s becoming a man.

I’m praying that these letters and this place become one of his sacred altars–a place to go back to in the years to come when he needs to pray or think or reflect.

A milestone day. An Ebenezer moment.

Hiterto the Lord has helped me!