As I write this blog I am listening to three or four different versions of "I Surrender All." Matt Redman recently recorded a superb cover version of this song, which is to die for if you like old hymns turned into modern Christian songs. (Even if you don't like old hymns turned into modern Christian songs, this song is very, very good, but sorry I don't have a link to it right now!) Meanwhile, we had quite a good weekend but I was exhausted due to new developments in my life. I think the stress of the whole thing was finally released over the weekend and Saturday my body crashed. Saturday afternoon a birthday party took place. At left you'll find all the gorgeous mothers who keep our building glued together... okay, a few of the gorgeous mothers are missing but this is a good snapshot. Regardless, something happened at this party that neither Tess nor myself was aware of... Sebastian wondered. I discovered this 24 hours later in the car.
Post-church we are on our way to the ABC, Tess was at home nursing a cold but meeting us at the Club. While sitting at a stoplight Sebastian said, "Daddee, I did something yesterday that I wasn't supposed to do." Seb was sitting in the back seat of the car, so the triplets listened to this loud confession, too.
"Yes, Sebastian, what was that?" I inquired.
"Yesterday during the party **** and I went to his home when we weren't supposed to," he explained.
"Aha, I see. So, yesterday during the playground party you went up to ****'s home without permission even though you knew that you shouldn't leave the playground without letting us know?" I confirmed.
"Yes," Sebastian replied with some sheepish confidence.
"Hmmmm... well, Seb I have to tell you that I am very proud of you for being honest and telling me that you think you did something wrong. Thank you. Can I count on you to not do that again and tell me if you want to leave the playground?"
"Yes," Sebastian replied rather confidently.
"Thank you, Sebastian, and I am REALLY proud of you for telling me about this. I love you and I forgive you. If you pray about this, Jesus will forgive you, too." I explained.
"I already prayed to Jesus yesterday asking Him to forgive me," replied Sebastian.
"Wow, Sebastian, that's even better," I said in astonishment.
On Sunday evening I recounted this story to Tess after the kids were in bed. Tess was amazed followed by silence. Then it was my turn, "You want to hear something shocking?" I asked Tess.
"What's that?" she asked.
"I was younger than Sebastian when I tried my first cigarette," I said.
Tess shot THE LOOK at me with "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU."
"It's true. On the cruise south to the Bahamas when I was six years old with my family, we were at the last port in Florida before sailing across to Nassau. I had befriended a boy about my age who must have swiped some cigarettes from somewhere. I took two drags but didn't inhale and then we washed our mouths out with water from a hose. Shortly thereafter I went back to my family's boat for dinner, completely terrified they'd smell the smoke on my breathe."
"That's unbelievable," Tess retorted.
"I remember not liking it... probably a good thing," I said.
"I still don't believe you," Tess murmered.
"I wonder where he got those cigarettes from?" I pondered...
Now I am listening to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and going deep down memory lane... sigh.
