Uncle David

I’m going to be an uncle! My sister and brother-in-law brought us these picture and video of “Baby”.

This announcement has led me to think a lot about multigenerationalism and about family relationships within my immediate family. My parents are both first born of five. I have a lot of aunts and uncles. I’ve been blessed to grow up in with an extended family that, while not always functional, are always loving. Every one of my aunts and uncles loves me. Were crisis to strike, I feel like I could go to just about any one of them for help.

I didn’t realize how much that meant to me until just now (mental note: tell your aunts and uncles how much you love them).

Anyway, I suppose it’s common to take inventory and figure out what kind of uncle you’re going to be. Will I be the fun uncle? The rich uncle? The smart uncle? The perpetually single uncle? The trouble-making uncle? Thinking about this made me realize that this question should have been been answered long before any baby announcement.

There are moments in our lives when a major life event happens and we stop and think, “Whoa! I need to get my act together!” True that. I’m grateful for the moments that light a fire under me. But the right thing should be the right thing no matter what is happening. So forgive me if I’m a little embarrassed that my motivation requires those moments.

It’s in those moments that I’m thankful I serve a patient God.

While I’m thinking about that, you can enjoy this video clip of him shaking his little tush.