My boy woke one morning last week and told me that he had a dream and now he knew what he was meant for: to defend. His people, his country, the oppressed. All of it.
I asked if that extended to building structures, wondering if he might be thinking of becoming a fireman, but got a resounding, “No,” back.
He will defend people’s lives and happiness. For me it was not a surprise to hear him say this as his actions have pointed to it long before he had the ability to articulate.
I admit that his personality is made for defense. He is always the first to speak up. He defends children against perceived inequities doled out by their parents (those he knows and those he meets at the playground). He defends his sister always, even dropping a best friend of three years after the child began to say mean things to her. He is fearless when he is defending. It makes no difference if the perceived trampler of a person’s rights and freedoms is a child, an adult, or a thug. He may be scared, but nothing will stop him from his mission. He will help those who cannot help themselves.
His choice of sports is one that is based on warfare in many ways and it is my son who is the strongest and loudest voice on the field when calling his teammates to push through defenders.
My boy’s favorite stories are ones of defense also. From the Lord of the Rings to the Narnia stories to the Bible, he devours the story lines about defending those who need help.
Our society today does not value bravery in our children. We do not like to be questioned by our youth, much less adults. We do not stand back and realize the extra strength it takes for children to confront adults, especially when they are acting on behalf of another person. We should.
I do not know where my boy developed his personality, but I really think he was born with it. He was born to defend and there is no conceivable way I can change that, even if I wanted to.
I don’t think anyone can really change the fundamental character each of us is born with and trying to mold another person and suppress their basic nature leads to feelings of hidden faults that don’t end well.
There is a place for all of us in this world, if we can just manage to leave each other alone to become the people we are meant to be. And as for my boy, he will defend.
