A Teenager with a Title

Last week my son Paul went before a Boy Scout board of review and passed the final hurdle to becoming an Eagle Scout. All that is left now is really just the pomp and circumstance associated with the court of honor.

Brandy and I are really proud of him. We're tempted to effusively praise in public, but have so far been able to restrain ourselves outside the home. I won't describe what has gone on inside the home other than to say that Paul has DEFINITELY earned himself some goodwill.

The purpose of this post is not to notify people about Paul's accomplishment as much as it is to share something about Brandy that to me shows Paul would be best to follow her lead.

After the board of review, one of the men who interviewed Paul told him that in his life he would have the opportunity to earn many titles. He said he would one day be a "mister" and if he went to school long enough could earn the title "doctor."

Then he told him that no other title in his life would mean more to him than his first title of "Eagle Scout." It was a wonderful, kind thing for the man to say, and we are grateful for the way he expressed this sentiment to Paul.

On the way home, Brandy reinforced the man's statement, explaining that the first title will be his most meaningful. Then she reminded him that he received his first title when he was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood at age 12.

I guess we could go back even further to when he was 8-years-old and made the decision to be baptized. That covenant gave him the title of Christian, because he committed to follow Christ for the rest of his life.

I think the titles that have followed are a manifestation that his life is headed in the right direction.

I'm grateful that the scouting program teaches and reinforces values that we have tried to teach our son. I'm grateful that he is a young Christian committed to serving other people. I'm grateful he is a priesthood holder preparing himself for a greater priesthood.

The wonderful thing about being an Eagle Scout is that now so many other people will know what me and his mother have known for a long time: he has a good heart, works hard and has great potential.

If he remembers the titles of his youth, I'm confident he will be bestowed with many other honorable and meaningful titles.

I guess what I am trying to say is that this could be the start of something really good.