Jackson has lots of models of professional manhood -- a father who advocates, a grandfather who wears work boots for teaching, a grandfather who worked on computers, a couple of uncles who fight fires, an uncle who helps businesses be more successful, an uncle who runs his own business, and an uncle who fixes teeth. All these men, and the men who are in our circle of friends, show him and his brother how to juggle lots of balls... phone calls, e-mails, clients, issues.
Our boys will not have to raise their arms and swing their sickles through grass and bushes that have never been cut to create a workable path through life. Instead, they'll be able to spend their energy exploring their hearts and souls to decide how to walk a well-worn path in their own way.
Jackson also has models of being a man that express more than simply "what you might DO when you grow up." He has models that express "who you might choose to be." He sees creativity, concern, humor, curiosity. In the model that matters most -- his Dad -- he sees love in action. In those Daddy-eyes he sees pride and vigilance, delight and firmness. From his Daddy's hands he feels tenderness and strength.
This boy may not grow up and wear a tie, or a suit and black shoes. But, when I see this picture of a man showing his son one way to be a man, I know for certain that whatever he WEARS, his heart will look for all the ways he can show his love.
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