Nathan Wendt

Madison Local Schools - K-6 -Christmas Celebration - 2009. Nathan Wendt (2nd grade) in shades, khaki shorts, and some Hawaiian looking shirt.

This was perhaps the 15th of 18 songs the kids did. The entire show was great.

This is the 2nd grade class performing to Little St. Nick by the Beach Boys… with a parachute of course.

Last night Nathan and I were on our way back from a Cub Scout meeting at the Riverview Baptist Church in Franklin, Ohio when I received a page from Nate’s mom.  As my phone was still on a silent setting from the Cub Scout meeting the page went unnoticed. In the car on the way home Nate and I were chatting about the meeting and how proud I was of him for having memorized his Cub Scout promise and motto. It truly was a joy to be there with Nate and his good manners and behavior were in my opinion a testament to the character of the entire family whose values have been passed down generation after generation.

When we arrived home Nate, as is his tradition, hid his Cub Scouts leaf collecting project behind his back as he walked in the door. As he always likes to surprise mom with everything he has. Mom gave the usual sighs of approval but it was instantly noticeable that something was wrong. Knowing mom had just gotten off the treadmill I had for a second hoped that I was mistaken.  Perhaps I thought mom was just perspiring and tired from the exercise.  But a look right into her eyes told me otherwise.

With Nate standing there with his leaf project still in hand I asked what was wrong, and the reply and the tears came very quickly. Nate’s Great Grandmother, Wanda Marie Wells at age 84, had passed away only moments earlier.

I gave mom a big hug and what was only seconds felt like an eternity of sadness.  Agreeing between ourselves as we broke the hug that Grandma was in a much better place we turned around to see Nate standing there watching us. With tears in his eyes he hung his head the moment we looked his way. He then ran right over and gave mom a big hug.

Mom did her best to explain that Grandma was with Jesus now and that we would see her again in Heaven. As Nate was well aware Grandma had not been well for month’s and mom’s explanation about how it was the natural order of things that our bodies grow old and wear out was easily accepted.  In this case that was certainly true. Grandma had suffered for a long time from COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and as Nate and I were on our way home from Cub Scouts, while napping at home on her couch she fell into an eternal sleep that called her home.

This is the first loss in the family that Nate has been exposed to. I hope we have done the right things so far to prepare him for this day, and or to whatever extent possible, ease the pain of the loss. Within minutes of our return to the house mom was off to be with her Grandfather and parents. While I got Nate ready for bed I asked if he had any questions and as expected he said no. I explained again that Grandma was with Jesus now and not suffering any more. I explained that she was no longer stuck in that old body, but free of pain and in a heavenly body that would never wear out. Nate promised he understood but I cannot help but feel guilty for not having had Nate more involved with the Church even at this young age, because it is there, along with guidance from ones family, where lifelong beliefs on the fundamentals of faith are learned.

I know the next time I put Nate to bed and we say our prayers, that even his simple prayer of “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray The Lord my soul to keep, and should I die before I wake, I pray The Lord my soul to take.” will have an even greater meaning to both of us.

Time to admit our little boy is not so little anymore. In fact yesterday was his 7th birthday. I tell him all the time that it seems like just a few days ago that he was wobbling around the room just learning to walk and needing his diaper changed a dozen times a day. Now of course the big accomplishments are a lot different. From good manners to good reading skills our expectations change with each passing year.

The birthday party was great fun and filled with lots of happy shouts from the birthday boy as he unwrapped present after present. I think the big hit this year was a Star Wars Lego kit from his Grandma and Grandpa French. The kit was so big it included two very lengthy assembly guides and I would imagine it will take several days to put together. Of course Nate could not wait to get started.

One funny gift unwrapping scene concurred with a computer game I gave Nate. The tile of the game was “Theatre of War”. When Nate opened it the graphics on the box were enough to make him smile and proclaim his approval with the cry of “Cool!”. However when he read that title nothing even close to the word “Theatre” came out of his mouth. After hearing this 10 year old cousin asked “What’s in there?”, and Nate responded with a shrug, to which the cousin suggested “Well I bet it’s full of a whole bunch of war”. This made them both happy.

After some great cake and ice cream Nate was asked to take his now traditional stand in front of his bedroom door to have his height marked. He had grown another three inches since last year. Even this prompted the memory of how it just seemed like days ago when the poor little fellow had no legs at all and 75% of his little body was upper torso. Now our little boy is a well proportioned “long legged galoot”. To be exact on his 7th birthday the “little guy” is a ginormious 4 foot and 4-1/2 inches tall.

Happy birthday buddy – We love you so much!