Counting My Blessings

Danny Orvick and Chris DeGroot. Two fellows, a year older than Aaron, who I judged incorrectly. I didn't know Aaron's friends well enough to decide if they were part of the problem or part of the solution. Who to trust, believe, question, or run off was my everyday dilemma. I chose to run everyone off. Given the chance I would have isolated Aaron  In fact, I suppose that was the ultimate decision in 2003.

April 2005. Five years ago. I remember too clearly the time of my life. How five years has passed bewilders me. Looking back over the journey there were days where I felt total awareness and now I wonder how I managed to put one foot in front of the other. I was such a mess for so long. But five years ago today I was standing tall and looking to the future. Aaron had come clean on a relapse, faced the school, paid the price, and was living in peace Two friends, I'm sure there were others, had made suggestions he took to heart. Chris was encouraging Aaron and helping him make better choices Danny had the man-to-man chat Aaron needed to have and it made all the difference.

Oblivious to the time expiring, Aaron and I had one last Father and Son talk where Father told Son to "Toe the line or pack your things and go." Not exactly My Way or the Highway. More: You Can Check Out Any Time You'd Like. Given the invitation to pack his things and go, Aaron spent the night at Danny's. At 6:00 AM, Aaron called me. "Danny and I were up all night talking. He helped me understand what I need to do. I can't wait to talk to you. He made alot of sense. Can I come and talk?" We met at the house later that day. Aaron announced that Danny had advised him to follow house rules. Parents have a car, Aaron has a car. Leave parents car alone. Use your own car. Finish school. Get a job. I don't know if Danny was speaking a different language, but it made sense to Aaron. I asked what he was going to do, thinking he was ready to move out I thought he was going to say he was moving in to Danny's. Nope. "I'm really tired. I think I will take a shower and go to bed."

The date was probably April 25 to 27. There was never a cross word spoken by Aaron to me or me to Aaron after that. Two weeks of peace and mutual respect. And time kept slipping into the future. Danny and Chris were doing God's work and they never knew it. I'm grateful and blessed.