Aladar Turns 18

A poem I wrote for my grandson when he recently turned 18. The reference to Aladar in the title refers to his obsession for dressing up as that fictional dinosaur when he was young.

The day you were born was an epiphany for me;
Something new where I thought newness gone.
The boundaries of my reality had,
without warning, been redrawn.
Suddenly hot churning lava and  Dinosaurs facts
fascinated me for hours;
And watching Woody, Buzz and the other toys
was a ritual of mystical powers.
As life moved on there were growing pains, adjustments to the world you were in.
There were definitely some stumbling blocks,
struggles to fit into your skin.
For you were bigger and stronger
and thought differently;
Something that small world could not accept.
And you would never back down and never give up
when you felt the need to protect.
As I watched you grow into yourself, navigating trials, missteps and travails,
Some requiring your blood sweat and tears,
others through which you just sailed,
I began to see an extraordinary  man emerge;
One blessed with intelligence;
Who was Self-possessed, self-assured, and confident;
with no trace of arrogance.
You were determined to set and own your own course;
Friends and fads held no sway over you. For you were committed to make your behavior reflect
what you felt in your heart to be true.
I saw, with pride the priority you set
to earn your mom's and dad's respect.
With uncommon commitment you set out to achieve
everything they could ever expect.
Including your choice to be a  big brother who would protect nurture and teach,
The sister you love, who is so different from you,
and not so easy to reach.
I have watched you grow from young child to young adult,
and I've cherished my front row view.
So, today on your 18th birthday allow me to speak of my pride in you.
I am proud that you are my grandson
and I am humbled to have been a part
Of helping you grow to adulthood; protecting and shaping your heart.
I'm proud that you've found the love of God,
Allowed He and His Son to work in you.
To cultivate the perfect peace of His love unconditional and eternally true.
And I am so proud that when faced with a problem,
you don't falter but turn right to the source. A limitless God with limitless love
who will walk with you no matter the course.
© Linda Troxell
10/25/2016
Happy Birthday my darling boy. ILYTTMAB, G-ma