Aaron Butt

Tell us about your family.
I have been married for 10 years to my wife, Nicole. We have three children: Elijah is 4, Lydia is 2, and Jude is 6 months old.
Tell us about a hobby you have.
My favorite hobby is gardening. Each year I grow traditional vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. I also try to plant a few unusual vegetables each year. This year I am growing “ghost” peppers, the world’s hottest pepper, tomatillos, and leeks.
Describe one of the highlights of your life.
Apart from meeting my wife and having children, one of the current highlights of my life is getting to interact with middle school students. Some days it makes me want to pull my hair out, but most of the time it is a privilege to have the chance to guide boys during such a critical stage of life. It also keeps me from taking myself too seriously.
Describe one of the biggest surprises of your life.
My wife and I were happily surprised, and a bit overwhelmed, when we found out we were having a third child!
Describe one of the tragedies/struggles of your life.
My wife and I spent a wonderfully hard year fostering two brothers. It was a challenging year to say the least, but we grew to love the boys, and still see them on a regular basis.
Describe a dream you have for your future.
One of my biggest dreams for the future is to see my children grow to have loving relationships, learn to follow God with their whole hearts, and find a calling where they can serve those around them.
Describe a fear you have for your future.
I honestly don’t spend a lot of time fearing the future (maybe I should), but as I get older, I want to make sure that I don’t ignore the present. It is easy to look forward to the years to come, and miss the opportunities right now. There are things God is calling my family to, and I sometimes fear that I will be too bogged down in the daily struggles of life to follow.
Here’s your chance to sound off. If you could give one public service announcement/word of advice to the public at large, what would it be?
I have recently been learning in a teaching class about how kids have a need for acceptance and love before they feel comfortable enough to achieve in the classroom. Isn’t that true about all of us? A strong foundation of love and respect allows our marriages to grow. God loves and accepts us, and we desire to follow Him in response. Being a parent helps me to understand this more clearly. I don’t love my children because of what they accomplish. I love them for who they are, which hopefully gives them a safe space to achieve. So often we get it backwards, and base our acceptance and love of someone on their achievements. God help us in all of our relationships to serve and love not based on people’s success.