Letter to My Birthday Boy: 15 Years Old

Reid Jackson, 

    

    What a great year this has been, watching you grow into such a handsome, respectful, and brave young man. You are really starting to come into your own identity and figure out who you are, and it's so wonderful to watch you flourish. You finished up your 8th grade year at Grove and you thrived, despite my breast cancer diagnosis, lots of hardships within our family, and most of your friends being at a different school in high school. You persevered, matured, and endured when it wasn't easy. You made good grades, excelled in sports, and learned more about who God is and how He can be trusted in all circumstances. 

.....

.....

.....

You spent a lot of time fishing over the spring and summer, and even got your very own bass boat! I've never seen anyone love fishing as much as you, and it seems as though the water is your happy place. You are most content, most relaxed, most satisfied, and closest to God when you have that rod and reel in your hand. We went to the Keys this summer and you almost hooked a tarpon and caught your first shark. Another highlight was catching your unicorn fish in Miami near the hotel we were staying at...a peacock bass! Rivers, lakes, or oceans...you'll try to catch anything in any water!

.....

.....

.....

Next to fishing, you've also developed a deep love for music this year. Your first concert was Zach Bryan, and your second concert was...Zach Bryan! I took you, Lil, and CJ to the BOK Center in Tulsa and we had such a great time. I sat in the nosebleeds in our regular seats, while you all snuck down into the pit. It was definitely a night to remember!

.....

.....

I can't believe it will be just one more year until you start driving. You took driver's ed over the summer and got your permit. I feel like these past few years have flown by and I'm not ready for it!

.....

I'm behind on writing this letter, so I included some pictures from your first couple of months of high school. You started high school at North Rock Creek this year, and it's been a really great place and community for you. It started off a little rocky, however. You were thrown into a new high school with new friends, new teachers, a new football team, new procedures...coming from a familiar K-8 community you had been at since you were 5...and right off the tail end of your mother being in breast cancer treatment, receiving chemo and radiation, as well as your grandfather being diagnosed with breast cancer just a couple of years after his spinal cord injury. It's been one challenge after another for our family the past couple of years, so it's understandable why high school was a little rocky at first. Integrating into your place on the new football team was tough, being a freshman was tough, and having new teachers who didn't know your personality yet or anything about our family was tough. But like you always do...you adjusted, you figured it out...and you started thriving! You enjoyed your freshman football season, you made all As and Bs, and you find your place in with several good friends.

.....

.....

.....

.....

.....

Bible verse for year 15:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

.....

.....

Reid loves:

-music

-fishing

-lasagna

-Chick-Fil-A

-new shoes

-hoodies

-Bass Pro

-being outside

-basketball

-football

-hunting

.....

.....

Reid, my prayer for you in your 15th year is that you continue to grow and flourish into who God made you to be. I pray you lean into the Lord, and always seek His guidance. I pray you make a couple of really good, life-long friends who love Jesus and always point you to Him. I pray you will always know that your dad and I are proud of you and love you unconditionally - not because of anything you've accomplished or will accomplish - but simply because you're our son. I pray you know that home is always your safe space and you will never do anything bad enough where you can't come home. You are so strong, brave, and kind. And I love you so very much.

-Mom