Crossing Threshholds

My son is no longer a little boy. I knew the day was coming when he would cross that threshhold from being a child to being a young man. And that time has finally arrived.

He turned 12. A few weeks ago, he received the priesthood. He's moving upward in his scout rankings and becoming more independent with his social activities. He's becoming more responsible for himself and reliable in doing the things he knows he should do. All of these things were preparing me for that tiny moment when I would see that change in him. I thought I would be sad to know that my "baby" isn't a baby anymore. I didn't realize it would fill me with so much pride for my son.

As I sat there and watch him be dwarfed by the priests and teachers who were also administering the sacrament (the ward has a shortage of deacons) I saw him begin this ordinance as a nervous child. By the time he had finished passing the bread you could visibly see his confidence growing. He stood straighter and fidgited less. And by the time he had completed the entire sacrament process and returned to his seat with his sister and I, you could see it in his face. This child was no longer a child.

Prior to the start of sacrament meeting, I sat watching the older youth take him under their wing: showing him what to do, where to go, how to do and generally allaying his fears and nervousness. He formed a new relationship with his peers.

And when all was said and done, this child who would not allow his mother hugs or kisses in public became a young man who asked his mother for a kiss before he went off for the rest of his Sunday School and priesthood lessons.

Can I tell him that he's now allowed to cross anymore threshholds anytime soon? I'll still take the hugs and kisses though.