The other night, Luke and I had scouts, (I'm the Bear/Wolf Den Leader, and Luke is a Webelo without a leader). I found out just before the service project that it was also the Mother/Son activity at the indoor soccer complex where I play. They were having soccer and flag football activities, tag, and other activities for the kids and moms. I wanted to go so bad. For scouts we were taking Thank You cards and cookies to our local firemen as a thank you for their service and the most amazing field trip ever. Then we were going to the Celery Flats to clean up the walking/running/biking trails. I thought maybe I would go deliver the cookies and then head off to the activity with Luke. I thought I could be justified in doing that by putting family first. After we delivered the cookies, we just moved into the service project without much of a second thought about the other fun activity going on that night.
I say without much of a second thought, because as I watched my son running around finding garbage, leading his peers in cleaning up the trails, I knew that we were right where we were supposed to be. Not that Luke is always the greatest of examples following the rules of the activity, but that night, he was a true leader, and he put his whole heart into his work. My heart swelled and grew in love for my boy. Yes, we were right where we needed to be. Thanks, Luke, for your service.
(And as I'm typing this he is torturing his sister. He is all boy.)
