Remind me to tell you of the remarkable story of my wife, her son and my surname.
Fascinating stuff, and it’s a true story too.
In the meantime all you need to know is that my beloved wife has an equally precious and highly valued son. Indeed to date he is the only son from her womb. Almost like he is her only begotten son.
Anyway, so this son has a name and that name is Kevaughn. Not Kevin, Kevaughn. Not that people can get their head around that, but that’s not my problem, or his to a large degree. He has now reached the stage in his life where he is about to embark on that weird and wonderful journey that is a degree course at university. He’s not doing it half-hearted and commuting from home or anything, he’s leaving home and moving to live near the digs.
For the household dynamic that causes a significant change in the atmosphere. Already the older two girls are vying to get his bedroom instead of him! That’s nice isn’t it.
In all seriousness, his departure brings about times of reflection as to the day when I myself left the comfort of the home nest to go to university. 16 years ago in my case, and I remember my Mum and Dad travelling with me to my new room in the halls of residence. From Wellingborough to Colchester was a fair old distance, enough to ensure plenty of time being given if they ever popped round to tidy the room in preparation! (Not that I ever got round to it.)
As they helped me unpack me stuff into the room and we looked at everything in this new alien world, it began to dawn on me that this was the real deal. This was it. No more having to compete with me siblings for the last chocolate digestive (or Homewheat to give it the proper name), no more enjoying my Mum’s cooking, no more familiar family things to keep me company. I was now on my own. Excited though I was at this next step in me life, there was a small knot of anxiety as to how I would cope all alone in this strange new world.
Thankfully although I was physically and geographically removed from my immediate family, the bonds between us actually grew stronger as a result. Especially between my sister and I, without having to see her as a brutal dictatorial autocrat, she became a lot more of a friend and counsellor who could take on the things that I may not have felt comfortable telling my parents. Beyond that my Mum and Dad remained constant sources of comfort and strength, never wavering from belief in God for their son to make it through the course alright.
Times have changed quite significantly since that day in October 1996 and thankfully my family has grown as God has placed dear people in my life as more than friends, but brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts in Christ. In as much as times have changed, the principle of having family during those tricky times in life, and even to celebrate those victories remains so valuable. Even though Kevaughn has left the nest, as long as he remains a Dryden, and most crucially as long as he remains close to Christ, He knows that his family will be there for him in all he goes through. (Not sure if his sisters will let him have his room back, though.)
One person who constitutes part of that growth in family is Hughie Lawrence, and today is his 50th birthday. For an intensive decade of my development I had the honour of his oversight in me life as a mentor and friend. Some vital principles in my life were learnt whilst seeing him in action. As ever with him, he’s having a big birthday bash to celebrate this significant date and I am sad that I’m not able to make it, but hopefully as he celebrates he too will again appreciate the family of brothers and sisters in Christ that God has placed around him.
It may not be your biological family, but as long as there are people that love, respect, honour and value you then there is still a family around you. As times promise never to stay the same, having this critical network of love around you can make the difference between sinking and swimming. Be grateful for them.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 