While it was my daughter who got confirmed this past Sunday, it was I who received confirmation. I received confirmation in that I had, in fact, followed through with the vows that I made when she and her brother were baptized. For four years "we" have been going to confirmation classes on Wednesday evenings as well as on Sundays. "We" have been getting home late and "we" have had to memorize scripture. While I believe this to be essential in their lives as Christians I must admit that I am relieved this accomplishment has been achieved. I find it interesting that the burdens we feel, as parents, are usually ones we heap upon ourselves. But deep down we know that the sacrifices we are making today will benefit our kids later in life. And that is just the thing...when we stop grumbling and complaining about all of the things we "have" to do...and realize that we are doing what needs to be done....then, and only then, can we come to appreciate not only what we are doing, but what our parents did (or didn't) do for us. This 'parenting thing' is so much more than making sure our kids look both ways before crossing the street, or that they remember to say 'please' and 'thank you.' It is about ensuring that our kids have some kind of firm foundation upon which to stand. Hopefully that foundation is large enough and sturdy enough to withstand the turbulence that will inevitably be thrown their way. I guess what I am trying to get at is this: yes, it was my daughter who was confirmed, but I can't help but to feel a little swelling of pride in knowing that I had a part in building a portion of her foundation. The fact that Jesus blessed those efforts last Sunday didn't hurt a bit!
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