I love cats, large and small, domesticated and wild. So, it’s no surprise how much I was touched by the story of Christian, the lion. Christian was a lion originally purchased in 1969 from Harrods department store in London by two Australians, John Rendall and Anthony “Ace” Bourke.
When Christian got too large for his urban surroundings, John and Ace found a way to take him to Africa and, ultimately, reintroduce him into the wild with the help of conservationist George Adamson of “Born Free” fame. A year after Christian was released into the wild, John and Ace went back to visit. Amazingly, Christian remembered them.
It’s hard not to be moved by the story and footage that has been circulating on YouTube. I smiled at the scenes during Christian’s younger years, when the lion and his two human ‘mentors’ chase each other around the church yard where they took Christian for exercise. Tears came to my eyes when I viewed the reunion and the big ‘hug’ Christian gives to John and Ace.
But what really gave me pause, was mind-blowing persistence and determination John and Ace displayed to set Christian free. They raised funds, sought local and global support, lobbied the Kenyan government for permission to bring him to Africa and, for a short time, even left their jobs. Beneath this mammoth undertaking was the drive to do everything they could to ensure Christian would not just survive but thrive.
Isn’t that what truly great parents do? No matter what, they find a way to give their kids the tools they need for the best shot at making it on their own. Helping your child take his first steps, learn to write his name, figure out how to balance a checkbook and make sound decisions in life.
Coaching our kid to use his wings and fly is something Big Papa and I are quite passionate about, though pushing him out of the nest seems light years away from where we sit now. Our thoughts center on getting a kid, not getting rid of a kid.
When I imagine teaching my child how to make an apple pie, I smile inwardly at the pride I’ll feel when my kiddo rolls out his first crust. What great fun it will be to walk to the market and decide together on whether we want the red Honey Crisp apples or the green Granny Smiths.
These are important “teachable moments.” If I can show my son his way around the kitchen, not only will he be able to feed himself as a college student, he might be able to woo a gal with his ability to make a tasty apple pie. Choosing between the Honey Crisps or the Granny Smiths will help him learn to make decisions, express preferences and understand what things cost.
Not that we shouldn’t enjoy making an apple pie together, for the simple bliss of the here and now alone. Watching John and Ace pass the soccer ball to Christian, you can see the pure joy in their faces and the undeniable bond they shared. In that moment, it’s all that matters. They aren’t thinking about how a game of chase and capture might be skills that will serve Christian well when he returns to the wild. They are just soaking in the experience.
When I finally take my turn at parenting, I hope I’ll find it within myself to do both. That I will be able to create a safe haven where my child can stand solidly on terra firma and, when the time comes, help him find the strength to stretch his wings and fly.
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings. ~Hodding Carter, Jr.
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