Your grandma is waiting for you too . Once I waited for your dad to be born and then I watched him become an incredible man that I love more than words can express. There is hardly a greater joy than seeing your baby have his own baby. I am grateful beyond measure. ❤️
I am stunned by the beauty and poignancy of this letter. What a blessed life this child will live. What good fortune to be born in this year 2025 into a family so devoted to the True, Beautiful, and Good. Aspirational.
That you write this (below quote specifically, entire letter generally) is evidence of hope and joy from the next generation!
May you have the courage and Grace to live it out!
"You will see it and weigh it and it will crush you; but we must urge you not to look away, nor to numb your heart to it. I will teach you courage upon stiff rapids and high cliffs, before the rifle aimed at the giant buck and the long walk in frightening darkness — not to help you master these things but to arm you with the courage to see suffering and know hope"
This is so exquisitely beautiful it makes me hurt. On the lighter side, as someone that grew up in Badlands and open prairies, I find the forest with its deep shade and dampness quickly becomes claustrophobic. I think your words will give me a different set of eyes the next time I’m in the forest. Oh, but there are so many deeper points that touched me. As a mother of a 40-year-old son who is not thriving, it was gut wrenchingly poignant. The world can indeed be a distressingly sad sort of place. But your words, to have “the courage to see suffering and know hope,” are a balm to my heart. It is the core of the Christian story. Your descriptions of your wife’s pregnancy and what she will experience with your newborn helps explain why a mother‘s love always hopes. Thank you.
How has my own baby already reached nearly 9 months of age? Born with lovely curled hair, deep beautiful eyes… it all passes so, so quickly. Soak it all up and do not wish for hurry. My oldest baby turns 11 this summer and my heart can hardly fathom it.
Lovely, filled with the beauty and longing of all good parents. As I read your piece I could really hear Our Heavenly Father singing over us as His children. God bless and keep you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace.
Nothing can prepare you for what you’ll feel watching your child enter this world, the first time you hold a new life you together created. Your child is a part of you.
Congratulations! As a long time reader I’m very happy to know your baby will be born in or near a beautiful cozy house in the Adirondacks and not in a Motel 6 somewhere on the road as you once seemed to hint was possible!
A beautiful piece as always. I think it’s awesome that you went everywhere only to discover that the place you grew up and that shaped you just happened, by a wild coincidence, to be the best place on earth. Everyone should have that!
Your grandma is waiting for you too . Once I waited for your dad to be born and then I watched him become an incredible man that I love more than words can express. There is hardly a greater joy than seeing your baby have his own baby. I am grateful beyond measure. ❤️
Beautiful, Mr. Hickman, simply beautiful. I wish you and your family great joy in your baby and your new home.
I am stunned by the beauty and poignancy of this letter. What a blessed life this child will live. What good fortune to be born in this year 2025 into a family so devoted to the True, Beautiful, and Good. Aspirational.
That you write this (below quote specifically, entire letter generally) is evidence of hope and joy from the next generation!
May you have the courage and Grace to live it out!
"You will see it and weigh it and it will crush you; but we must urge you not to look away, nor to numb your heart to it. I will teach you courage upon stiff rapids and high cliffs, before the rifle aimed at the giant buck and the long walk in frightening darkness — not to help you master these things but to arm you with the courage to see suffering and know hope"
*hope and joy FOR the next generation!
This is so exquisitely beautiful it makes me hurt. On the lighter side, as someone that grew up in Badlands and open prairies, I find the forest with its deep shade and dampness quickly becomes claustrophobic. I think your words will give me a different set of eyes the next time I’m in the forest. Oh, but there are so many deeper points that touched me. As a mother of a 40-year-old son who is not thriving, it was gut wrenchingly poignant. The world can indeed be a distressingly sad sort of place. But your words, to have “the courage to see suffering and know hope,” are a balm to my heart. It is the core of the Christian story. Your descriptions of your wife’s pregnancy and what she will experience with your newborn helps explain why a mother‘s love always hopes. Thank you.
Sooo sweet :) I can't wait until you can read this to our child!!
This was a comforting read. It's good to know there are people like you in the world.
How has my own baby already reached nearly 9 months of age? Born with lovely curled hair, deep beautiful eyes… it all passes so, so quickly. Soak it all up and do not wish for hurry. My oldest baby turns 11 this summer and my heart can hardly fathom it.
That was so beautiful, Andy, I'm choked up.
Your kid has got quite the adventure in store, merely by being the child of you and Keturah.
Lovely, filled with the beauty and longing of all good parents. As I read your piece I could really hear Our Heavenly Father singing over us as His children. God bless and keep you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace.
Thank you. This was lovely. It’s all worth it. Every last bit.
This made me teary eyed, such beautiful and inspiring writing. May God bless your growing family!
Pure beauty, good sir. Peace be with your family all the days.
Nothing can prepare you for what you’ll feel watching your child enter this world, the first time you hold a new life you together created. Your child is a part of you.
This is so beautiful. What a blessed child.
Congratulations! As a long time reader I’m very happy to know your baby will be born in or near a beautiful cozy house in the Adirondacks and not in a Motel 6 somewhere on the road as you once seemed to hint was possible!
A beautiful piece as always. I think it’s awesome that you went everywhere only to discover that the place you grew up and that shaped you just happened, by a wild coincidence, to be the best place on earth. Everyone should have that!