I have learned that the willingness to change one of the most important pathways to growth. It may be the single most important because it is a necessity to grow. The most recent example in my life was with my son Bryce. He was not my son 3 years ago. I was not close enough to him, to love him the way I needed to love him. I am 36 with no kids. Never married. I had no idea how to do this. Was I willing to love him? Yes, I was all in. Did I know what I was doing? Hell no.
I was willing to love him and I wanted to. I thought I didn’t know what I was doing but I did. I know how to ask for help and I know how to love. That’s all I needed to remember. I prayed for the answers to Bryce’s questions and I prayed for patience when he was tough. I told God I was willing to do whatever it took to be the right man but I needed help loving him. I had been such a cold, hollow capsule for so long… my heart and my mind didn’t really understand each other very well.
The answer came from the one place I didn’t expect. It came from Bryce. He began to love me. Because I had become willing to open myself up, I was able to experience the love of a child on a level I never knew existed. All I had to do was become willing and do my best, and God used a child to change my life all over again. Right when I didn’t know I needed it. Bryce is one of the most precious gifts I never saw coming. It’s incredible to me what has become my reality when I become willing to let God work his plan.
Today, I am thankful for willingness.
-Neal