29 May What you may (or may not) know about Corban.
Corban loves music. He dances, sings, bounces, rhymes, drums, strums, and pounds. Although he still refers to it as “mimi” (why??), his love for this art continues to grow. We were so grateful to take part in a free Jesus-focused music class last fall to this spring. Not only did it become a highlight of his week, but it also made its way into our home. Those of you who also attended the class will understand what I mean when I say that Corban loves to “pound heyo to Corban” and “go walking in the green grass.” He remembers songs that are specific to the car (and to which CD…which I have to find!), songs related to Bible verses, silly Pandora stations, YouTube videos we love, and more. James and I take great delight in the joy Corban finds in music. I look forward to seeing how God will use this passion of his…if it’ll be just between him and God in the long run or if he’ll share this gift with others.
When I took the Meyers-Briggs personality test, I came out as an E (extrovert). Not a partial E, not a mostly E, a straight-up-nothing-else-in-there Extrovert. Big surprise, right? James actually used to be a big extrovert as well (truly a surprise now!). He’s mellowed out quite a bit since college, but either way, Corban’s got the E gene too. He knows no stranger. His main goal anywhere we go is to speak and be heard. If someone is too busy or weirded out to reply to his incessant hellos, he’ll look at me: “Mommy, I say hi. I say hi uh-den (again).” When we sit on our front step to paint the sidewalk and people walk by, he demands their attention with his loud HI’s. In that environment, he is often greeted with a smile and hello, and let me tell you he grabs hold of that opportunity to tell them his life story! “HEYO!” “Hi there.” “I paintin da sidewalk. I usin chalk. I paintin. It’s su pooosed to rain. Den I ride my bike. (looks at me, no breath) Mommy, I say I paintin da sidewalk and I usin chalk. I say it’s su poooosed to rain. Den I ride my bike. I so nice, Mommy; I say hi. *looks around* Mommy, where da peepu (people)? I tant see da peepu!” Yeah, sorry, darling, I think they’ve already made it to the next block.
But you know what’s so great about his personality (and really, babies in general)? I’m forced into conversations and even some full-out relationships because of it! God has already used this little guy to encourage others with his friendliness, to slow me down to listen to others (although listening to the woman who called him The Jesus Baby was a little weird), to introduce me to those who desperately need prayer right now, and I’m sure more. We love how much he loves people, and we pray that God will use that heart in mighty compassionate ways in his future.
Corban recognizes places and products. He knows Owens and Walmart and Martins and Menards and gas stations and church and Drew’s house and Aiden’s house and Trey’s house and Reef’s house and the library and the park and the new park by the lake and and and! He also knows when we pull up to a drive-thru window, fries and chicken nuggets should be ordered. Healthy eating fail. We drive by the house below on our way to Trey’s house, and every time we do, Corban says, “I see Yoz!” This way that he remembers and places things is a constant motivator to me to put what is good before his eyes. To put God’s Word and Veggie Tales and kind deeds and godly role models in his path more often than Pat the Bunny and SuperWhy and whiny, disobedient characters (who are always supposed to learn what is good at the end but the end is too late for Corban’s young mind).
Lastly, Corban is a baller. He has mad skills with balls of all kinds in shooting and dribbling and scoring and passing and spiking and serving and putting. We’re always impressed (as are those around him). It’s fun because I grew up loving sports of all most kinds; we look forward again to seeing how the Lord will use these gifts to draw Corban to Himself…and bring those around him too.
Yeah. It’s a bit of a sappy post, but it’s a good reminder to me that this child that we are raising is his own person as much as I like to think he is mine. He was created by God in his own way, and God will use him in His own way. To view him as a separate entity from myself helps me keep perspective that we are training a unique soul, not a mini-me.
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