Braeden: A Gift I Never Knew I Needed

This past week, my godson Braeden, turned 7 years old. I’m still trying to figure out how time managed to fly by so quickly. It feels like just yesterday I was meeting him for the first time, a tiny 9-month-old with the biggest, most curious eyes and a smile that could melt steel. From the moment I laid eyes on him, something clicked in my heart that I’ll never be able to fully explain. I was 22, young and still figuring out my own life, but I knew without a doubt that God placed him in mine for a reason.

A lot of people assume Braeden is my son; and honestly, they’re not entirely wrong. While I may not have given birth to him, he is mine in every way that counts. He’s been by my side through so many seasons of life, and we’ve spent countless days, nights, weekends, and special moments together over these past seven years. Our bond runs deep, and the love I have for him is no different than what a mother feels for her child. He’s grown up with me, and I’ve grown through him. So when people call him my son, I just smile... because in my heart, he is.

I won’t go into too much detail about Braeden’s personal story because that’s his to share one day, but what I will say is that he has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. There’s a kind of love that doesn’t need biology to feel real. That’s what I have with Braeden. I love him as if he came from my own body. I’m not sure what the future holds for me when it comes to having children of my own, but Braeden has filled a place in my heart that I didn’t even know was empty. But in the space where grief and longing sometimes live, Braeden fills that space with joy, laughter, and the most unexpected sense of wholeness.

He has been my light in so many ways. Watching him grow into this brilliant, active, and hilarious little boy has been a front-row seat to God’s goodness. Braeden is a triple threat... dominating soccer fields, holding his own in wrestling, and sprinting across open fields in his track events like he's chasing the wind. But what really gets me is his heart. His sense of humor, his passion, his curiosity, and his love for legos that could put any master builder to shame. He’s all-in, always, and I love that about him.

Some of my favorite moments with Brae are the quiet, ordinary ones that somehow become everything. Like how he always falls asleep in the car, but not before belting out our favorite song together, “Seven” by Jung Kook. It’s our little tradition now, and every time I hear it, I smile because it’s our song. I love taking him on our little dates, where he becomes the most charming little gentleman; opening the restaurant door for me, and sometimes even pulling out my chair like he’s 27 instead of 7. He still loves to cuddle with me, and I hold onto those moments tightly because I know a time will come when he’ll be too big, too cool, or just too busy. I’m not rushing it. I’m soaking it in. I’ll never forget our beach trip, especially the look on his face when I surprised him with a dolphin-watching adventure. His joy lit up my whole soul. Every day with Braeden, I learn something new about him, and somehow, I fall even more in love with the little person he’s becoming.

He fits into our family like he was always meant to be there. Calls my parents “Mom Mom” and “Pop Pop,” calls my grandparents “Meme” and “Poppy,” and knows all my friends and church family back home. Honestly, if you know me at all, then you know Braeden. I do not play about that kid. I will forever protect him, advocate for him, pray for him, and love him fiercely.

God didn’t give me a son in the traditional sense, but he gave me Braeden. And I believe with all my heart that was no accident. He is a living reminder that God hears our hearts, even the unspoken parts. I don’t know what the next 7, 17, or 70 years will bring, but what I do know is this... I will always be in his corner. Always.

Happy 7th Birthday, Braeden. You’re everything I never knew I needed.