A few years ago I wrote about one of the saddest days in our family. In the world it may have been a minor event, but for my son the death of Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, was his most tearful yet. I will never forget sitting cross-legged on the kitchen floor, Nick cradled in my lap, as he sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, his tears soaking my shirt and mine his hair.
The question that kept running through my mind then and now is what should a dad do when his child's hero and dreams die?
Tonight I have been sitting on the sofa with my son, now a year and a half older, watching him watch his new hero. He has been waiting for this night for over a month - the BCS national championship. As we were watching the pregame show the network did an excellent feature on Tim Tebow. Yes, my son, living in Athens, GA is a fan of the Florida Gators. But more than the Gators, he adores Tim Tebow, known among the faithful UF fans as "Superman". But even though I am a fan of the UGA Bulldogs, it is really hard for me to complain.
In the feature they told of Tebow's humanitarian work - which anyone who has read much about him knows is based on his Christian faith. Tebow uses his fame as a platform to encourage others every chance he gets. But most of all he uses it as a chance to tell of his faith in Jesus Christ. From prisons, to hospitals, to mission trips in third world countries, Tebow gives freely of his time to share what is most important to him, what gives his life meaning.
So I may cringe a bit when I walk by Nick's room and see the blue and orange blaring at me, or when I see his wall of fame of UF memorabilia, or when I go to kiss him goodnight and have to sit on his Gator-head sheets. Kids have to have heroes. Kids will have heroes. As a dad I know that I can't choose his heroes for him. I can try. I can introduce him to good morals, to our families value system. I can make sure he is at church and surrounded by the things that I love and value. I can teach him about everything that is important to me. I can tell him how much I love God and how my faith in Jesus has changed my life. But I can't make him choose the heroes I would choose for him.
Steve Irwin was a fun hero. Our whole family enjoyed watching his various shows on TV - still do. We enjoy visiting zoos and playing with Nick's Sinoloan Milk snake. We all mourned with Nick at Irwin's passing. Tonight as I watched Nick watch Tebow I smiled. The glow of pride on his face as he watched Tebow preach and tell of how he loved touching others and using his fame as a platform to make a difference is a memory I will treasure.
My eyes again filled with tears as I watched him tonight, remembering that tragic day almost two years ago. But these tears are not for a hero lost, but a hero gained. And you know, I think I like this one better than the last. Its a great thing when you can take pride in your kid for making a wise choice on his own!
And I have to say it (for my son)....Go Gators!
Go Tebow!
