Houston-- A father's remembrance

Houston was a dream…a dream of his father.  He was his father’s dream of a “little buddy.”  Hunting, fishing, golfing, you name it.  They were going to do it all.  Men have dreams of boys.  Fathers want their boys to be what their mothers taught them…instead of what they did as rascals against their mother’s will.  Competitively speaking and deep down a father dreams of losing to his son in a round of golf.  He dreams of his son hunting and his son’s, “first deer.”  He longs to carry a tackle box and two fishing rods to the edge of a special moment.  However, a father never dreams of being so touched by a small man that graced our world for only four short days. 

In Houston’s four days, he touched all of us.  Some more than others, but if you are here, you were touched.  His father was not only touched…he was changed.  His father spent hours begging him to fight against a battle he could not overcome.  For selfish pride, his father begged futilely.  But God knew that Houston was born for more than golf carts, antlers or largemouth bass.  Houston was a gift and a lesson. 

Houston was born at only two pounds and one ounce.  The odds were against him from the very beginning.  But he proved his mettle.  He had more fight in those small numbers than most of us have in our adult bodies.  His father watched him fight.  His father was inspired.

Why only four days?  One day was enough to understand.  With his back against the wall, Little Houston fought like hell and changed lives.  He never earned a dime, he never caught a fish and never swung a golf club, but he made a difference.  He brought families together.  He brought friends to weep.  He taught us, all, to make every day count, instead of simply counting our days.

Houston’s four days counted for years.  He touched lives that were untouchable.  He touched relationships that were beyond repair.  Some that rallied around him, closely, will never be the same.  He taught us to live inspired.  He fought for the precious gift of life.  He didn’t win, but he was a wonderful teacher. 

Houston struggled, but who doesn’t?  His life was a brief epitome of ours.  We fight, we struggle, we win and we lose.  He taught his father that it’s okay to lose, but as long as you give your best, no one may ask any more of you.  It’s all of our responsibilities to fight as Houston did.  You may not win, but God will provide a lesson.  If we search for God’s lesson in all situations, good or not so good, we will live in His glory and not our own. 

Houston’s lessons to us are far-reaching.  His feeble body could not sustain the requirements of survival, but his robust resilience and fight were more than a father could ask.  A father may weep in an intensive care unit, but his pride is overwhelming.  The pride of a small man in an infant’s body is what every father desires…without knowing. 

Seth's wedding band on Houston's foot

Houston has touched us, he has bonded with us and he has changed us.  As his father held him in his last passing hour, it was absolutely apparent that this small angel, given to us for a short period of time, was more than any of us understood.  He was a child of God.  He understood when his father told him that he loved him.  This baby’s sweet, sincere eyes opened and looked deeply into his father’s to let him know that he understood that he was deeply loved by many.   Houston understood nothing of “our world,” but he knew he was loved. 

As he took his last gasp, in his father’s arms, he left us peacefully with a meaningful force. 

He is now a cherub and a guardian for, not only Elizabeth, Morgan and Seth, but all of us.  He touched you in his brief time with us…allow him to touch all of your hearts forever.  He lived as a symbol of strength.  He lived as an inspiration to fight and reconcile.  If you find yourself in a situation that seems unbearable, think of our Houston.  He lived the “unbearable” like none of us have.  He wanted to make the days count…he never intended to count the days.  He just did what every father expects of his son.  He fought…he showed his mettle and gave his best.  No one can ever hinder you from giving your best and no one can ever take away from the pride of a father watching his son making the days count instead of, simply, counting the days.