I just dropped my son off at Gay Pride...

I just dropped my son off at our city's Gay Pride parade.  Some in my faith communities may judge and question me for this, believing as I do that the LGBT way of life is not a viable path to long-term happiness. I will try to pretend that this does not hurt, though truly I understand the paradoxical nature of my position.  How is it possible for me to believe as I do, and yet experience a surge of motherly pride among the rush of emotions I feel driving away from my son and his friends?

It comes to this:  It is not my job to choose my son's path; it is his; my job is to support him in the process. He is the one that will have to walk to the end of this road, perhaps to find out it is the dead end I am afraid it is, or perhaps to find joy and fulfillment via a pathway I do not yet see.  It is not my place to limit his choices.  He is an emerging young man, and if he is ever to find the freedom to be fully alive, he needs to be able to explore all the places that journey may take him. I have not abdicated my responsibility as his mother to share my guidance; he understands well my concerns with an LGBT lifestyle.  However, as I seek to love like Jesus loves I have to remember that, as we often say in our little Christian circles, "Jesus is a gentleman."  That is, He does not force his way upon us. I actually think it is more poignant to say, as I did to my friend yesterday, "Jesus is not an a**hole." He extends arms of love, not words of shame. The rest comes out in the wash.