As a father, one of the hardest songs you hear come on the radio is that heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, guilt-ridden “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin:
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew He’d say,
“I’m gonna be like you, dad. You know I’m gonna be like you.”
And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
“When you comin’ home, Dad?”
“I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, son.
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play. Can you teach me to throw?”
I said, “Not today. I got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s ok.”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed.
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah. You know I’m gonna be like him.”
You know the rest, and it’s not good! Well… this is my oldest son and he is turning out just like me: the good and some of the bad. But the one thing different then the song is that he is much better than I ever was or ever dreamed of, and really is getting a double portion of the good!
He is hunting most weekends now after his time helping with the carepoints and ministry stuff we are doing here; he shot a couple warthogs and this is one of his 4 Impala’s… Tyler is starting his own hunting company called “Horizon Hunting Adventures” to help us initiate the next generation!
This picture’s for you, Grandpa…
The song brought up memories that I would rather forget, the travel, the long hard hours as you were growing up, but also the times I took you, your brother, and your friends hunting, fishing, riding horses in the high country of Colorado, camping by lakes, skiing, boating. Tyler is of the same cut of cloth, he is a “Wild at Heart” man, an adventurer and a lover of the Lord, what more could you ask. He also inherited your crazy side, he sure didn’t get it from me. Ha.
I am writing a book right now and when I talked of your childhood I think I used the term “Hellraiser”! Gonna be fun to see what his kids are like…
Tyler,
Did you shoot that thing or hit it with a car 🙂
Every Dad wants his sons to go farther then they did. You’re no exception Tyler. Your father and his father have this amazing gift to make connections with people, to draw people to themselves, but you have it even more so. That’s why after only 3 months, you owned Manzini.
I love and miss you my brother. Next time we’re there we are definately getting a hunt in.
Tyler – you are definitely the MAN! Initiated in all kinds of ways… !
It is a joy and will remain a joy to watch you grow into your full inheritance . You have a pretty good heritage… A.
Ah, I would say Tyler is the most like his father, he is a gentlemen, he is handsome strong and brilliant,
he encompasses “tender and tough”…Just like his dad,
love you both,
Lisa/Mommy