John Wayne Follow

Our son was born so long ago yet it seems like yesterday
that I stood, awed, before his crib and heard the doctor say
"You've quite a boy there, Mr. Jones"
I could only answer with a nod,
for his very being there I saw a miracle of God.

Later in his high chair, in a manner I deplore
I saw the miracle of God throw his oatmeal on the floor
I fixed him something different, for I felt he must be fed
but when I turned around again, that bowl was on his head.

/A few more years rolled along and he didn't spill things anymore
but his granddad sent a big bass drum and
once more I deplored the fact that my miracle of God
had a lusty taste for noise.
When he boom boom boom on that big bass drum
I questioned...boys must be boys

I asked his whereabouts one day
his mom said he's got a paper route
said he'd help earn his way
as he became a eagle scout.

When they pinned that medal on him
tears welled in my eyes
and I gripped his mother's hand
our boy had earned his prize

I won't forget that September day when he entered senior high
he had nary great excitement but he left home with a sigh
he came back that afternoon and gave us some puzzled looks
"Wow", he said, "This school is tough...look at all these books"

"Choice is yours", his mother said. You can pick the easy way...
what you put into life you get out of it.
Each man pays his price one day
He looked up and then he smiled. I saw he'd lost his gloom
He said, I'd better look at these"...headed for his room.

My son came home late one day...he seemed all worn out
I asked a little sharply what this was all about.
He spoke proudly and threw his shoulders back
in his eyes, I caught a gleam. "I wanted to surprise you, dad
I'm on the football team".

They won most of their games...lost a few.
Was a thrill to watch them play
When they didn't win, we knew he met the challenge anyway.
he didn't know it at the time, but it was a stepping stone
solid footing for the time he'd face life on his own.

How those three years flew past
when graduation came, we saw our boy grown up at last
our lives would never be the same.
I guess we've known all along what his goal would be
from that time three years ago when he chose responsibility

He stood in the doorway yesterday
put out a strong right hand...I held back tears
a uniformed boy to protect his land.
I shook his hand

His mother cried, "Son, why couldn't you wait"
embracing her, he softly said, "Mom, well. it would be too late
I promise I'll go back to school when I've met my obligation
to you, my friends, my girl, my school and most of all, this nation

I'll do all I can out there...
I know you'll both be trying to make everyone you know aware
we...we got to keep Old Glory flying"
and then his mother straightened up with a smile to hide a tear
she said, "We're both so proud of you
we'll feel lost without you here'.

Someday, you'll know what this moment means
when your boy shakes your hand
you'll watch him as he walks away
the day he becomes a man.