Update: Listen to the 25th Anniversary Special on Blogtalkradio.com that I had tonight. It’s one of the best shows so far!
At around 11:00pm Mountain (just ten minutes from the moment I started writing this post) I came into this world and into the hands of my trusted and amazing parents. From being born in Montana to growing up as a young boy in Portland to becoming who I was in Denver it has been an amazing life to have lived. From cowboys to yuppies (sorry Portland) and back to a One Horse Town where I experienced life changing events through middle school and where I cemented my relationship with Christ.
To high school where I had the most amazing, patient and accepting friends and where we all experienced Columbine personally at our very core. Through that year and into the future who I was to be was pulled together from what I had been for the last seventeen years. In those moments I slowly began to understand God’s plan for my life in a very small way.
As the days of high school faded I found myself striking out on my own and doing what had long been expected. Getting the heck outta the house and away from the parents. Through two colleges (and no degrees in the end) I found myself back in Denver and working. From working as customer service at Circuit City to being a Janitor at a church and then finding my way to a call center I had learned so much about the human condition I wondered just how deep the rabbit hole of being a creation of God went.
I was about to find out as I flew spinning and careening into the Philippines to learn some of the hardest lessons of my entire life so far. From culture shock to understanding people in a way differently to knowing where home was, it continued to cement in my heart, soul and mind what being Aaron DeLay means.
I am the product of my parents. I am honored to have have such people to raise me. God blessed me with a great father who was, is and will always be strong in the Lord. He towered above me when I was smaller and even today I feel small in his great shadow. He broke the mold of what I knew of fathers through my friends. It was pure God that I ended up with such a Man of God to call my father.
God also blessed (or cursed…just kidding Mom!) me with a great mother who showed the greatest care for me and my brother through the last 25 years. From always asking me what was going on to never giving up on me and refusing to let anything stop me from being who I wanted to be. She never forced me into things I didn’t want. I think she secretly knew where I was headed sometimes. Her wisdom, kindness and compassion has spanned 25 years and I never want that to end.
My parents always provided what they could but always reminded me what I needed and what I wanted…and what the difference was. They had parties for my friends. They put up with my insanity. They guided me through 25 years life in what can only be described as a miracle. They’ve continued to stand just to the side and behind. And for that I am thankful.
And so 25 years isn’t about me and what I’ve done. It is more a reflection of my parents and who they are. They are what has brought me here. Through their words, actions and decisions it is directly connected to my life. Without them and God I could not have made it this far to where I stand now, at the cusp of adulthood.
Thank you Mom and Dad. For the days where I screamed. threw unknown amounts of tantrums. For the faces and stubbornness passed to me from Grandpa Otto. For the laughter that filled our house. For the family meetings that never seemed to end. For being the greatest parents anyone could have been given. I wasn’t worthy to have you as my guide through life.
I can only hope to guide my future family in much the way you have led me. Thank you for the last 25 years.
And to many more to follow as we as a family continue to make this journey called life.
That was very touching.
Thank you kindly…:)