The look

In the past week or so I've been reviewing my notes for an up-coming speaking engagement. The topic I was given? Loving each of our children through their differences.

It's had me thinking back to when the older children were little. What were their personalities then? What aspects of their personalities were difficult to parent? Easier to parent? Are there remnants of those qualities today? Which ones? Are there any surprises in their adult personalities? Anything I easily would have predicted? Anything that frustrated me in the younger years but which is perfect for who the child has become?

And since Jesse turns 21 today, we'll just park on Jesse for a moment.

He recently started collecting snapshots of himself with "the look".

The look that said, "I'm the middle child."

(At least for now...)

Or maybe it was, "Don't you wish you knew what I'm plotting right now?"

Or just maybe it was, "Wait til you get these photos developed and see how I added character to your photo."

Whatever it was, Jesse has always been our middle child. When I was pregnant with our third child, our doctor (who saw 4 generations of our family) commented, "Well, that one knew he was going to be the middle child before you knew he was going to be a middle child."

Pretty smart man.

And we loved that twinkle, that mischievous look.

Most days.

Some days, however, that need to be the center of attention, to have fun, caused grief and embarrassment when other adults in his life called out the negative behaviors that distracted their classes. And the anger that exploded so quickly with his siblings...

But today, that need to have fun will do him well as a middle school teacher. It serves him well in middle school and high school ministry, giving him the ability to connect.

Happy 21st birthday, Jesse! Don't ever lose "the look"! God put it there, it's who you are, and you wouldn't be you without it.