Today, and this week, is special for the Ethridge family. On this day 20+ years ago… three years apart… Amy and Trey were born. This week in our youngest (Britton) will graduate high school. Big week indeed. Pam and I are proud of… and thankful for… Amy, Trey, and Britton! Now a quick story… (In the picture, left to right are Trey, Amy, Britton from March 2010).
When Pam and I were engaged we discussed family in terms of children. I wanted one child… Pam wanted six! We compromised at three. I wanted a girl first… after which Pam wanted a boy (If the first child had been a boy, we wanted a girl next). Also, Pam wanted our first two kids to be three years apart. Then she wanted to have her third child before she turned 30. Pause. Not much to ask for is it?
Well… Amy was born on May 24th, 1986 (Girl). Trey was born May 24th, 1989 (Boy, three years later to the day). Britton was born November 12, 1992… the day before Pam turned 30! Aside: There was one miscarriage who we will meet one day in glory (Life begins at conception).
I wish I could say I was godly enough to have prayed about all those things, but I didn’t. They just happened accidentally as a cosmic coincidence and is a neat little story to tell about our family. No… that is NOT my perspective. There are times God does things as little tokens of what He can do even when we don’t outright ask. There are times God does things we don’t ask for that are His special blessings. Like a parent who gives their child a gift He knows they want but have directly asked for.
Thus Pam and I see all three of our children as special blessings from God (Fourth already in heaven). He gave us a neat story to use as a reminder of His power and blessings. As written in Psalm 127:4-5, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Happy birthday Amy and Trey… Congratulations Britton! We love all three of you and thank God for blessing us by being your parents! All three of your are a joy and you all bring great happiness into our lives.