When it comes to pride, I’ve learned to be careful. I can’t be proud of my faith — that’s a gift, given by the grace of God, not something I built on my own. I’ve done well as a teacher, but there’s still a lot of road ahead. And as for my writing, it’s taken me a lifetime to finally grow into it. I wish I’d done more with it sooner. I wish it had done more for me, too — at least in the financial sense.
But if you really want to know what I’m proud of, it’s not an achievement or an accomplishment. It’s a person.
It’s Lizzi.
Through her, it’s Sully.
She’s so much me — but she’s also so much more than me. She’s beautiful, smart, and talented. She’s a great mother. And while her mom deserves a lot of credit, I know I invested a lot in her over the years. She grew into more than a daughter; she became one of my very best friends.
That’s what I’m proud of. Her — and the relationship we have.
And then there’s Sully. Every time I see him, I know there’s a little bit of me walking around inside of him. He’s smart and sweet and handsome, and Lizzi has done such a wonderful job raising him. I can see part of her in him — and part of me in her.
And that makes me smile.
And maybe that’s what pride is supposed to look like — not a trophy on a shelf or a number in a bank account, but a reflection of yourself living on in someone you love.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
Nice!