For Mom’s….
She was just sixteen….a child in some aspects. She was beautiful, and if you asked the boys around, she had surely been built special order by God. Fully developed and mature in those departments, (you know the ones) she had her pick really. Raised as a good kid from a great home, her parents were protective and not only hoped for the best, thought the best would surely happen. Fully capable in school, she made the Principle’s list every year from third grade through her junior year. Prom queen twice by that year, head of the cheerleading squad and Student body president her freshmen year…..She was a force to be reckoned with. "Going places," they used to say. Until that day: That day she met……him.
A self ordained bad boy, with long stringy hair, toned muscles and crystal green eyes. He was believable and had the magic of persuasion on his side: at least on this day. "Let’s fool around," he tempted her. "We’ll stop just before, I promise," he offered. "Here’s some protection, and with this, we’ll be fine: Don’t worry, have fun, nothing can happen," he said………
"A** Hole: it did happen, now where are you!"
Her world came tumbling down the day she found out. Word spread, people talked, perceptions changed, her parents became the only outlet. The school revoked their support, the previous scholarships offered were recended: and her bad boy?…. Gone! Alone, desperate, scared…..banished by the people who once annointed her. What to do, where to go? "You can’t do it, it’s too hard, end it while you can," said the self-appointed experts.
Strong, proud, hard-willed, determined…she made the decision! Meant to be, she proposed: A gift, a reason! That day……a MOM was formed!
He was fantastic, beautiful, perfect…..no fault could be found with this splendid, eight-pound miracle! He grew fast, learned fast, he would do the great things she had been denied. Her life would be dedicated to nurturing him, ensuring his safety: He was quite simply……The Reason!
Now twelve years later, parents long since passed away, living on the income of two minimum wage jobs, they struggle as she works long hours. He is alone after school, and the lesser-moraled kids are savvy to the opportunity…..they pounce and invite themselves into the "Reasons" life. They introduce him to the ways of the world, Sex, Alcohol, Drugs. "You need them and yes they will take your cares away," they assured him. Helpless against the majority, he relented and gave in….Heaven in a bottle, heaven with the girls; only the price was now to pay. No money meant no heaven: He began to steal, began to lie, began to cheat. Feelings were hurt, insults and slanderous words were spoken: physical violence broke out and a temendous blow was directed with malice.
"Mama, I’m sorry," he sobbed as he prayed and begged God for another chance. He held her in his arms, the sight of her blood and her soft cries of agony, pushed mighty daggers of pain into his heart. "Mama, please don’t go, please don’t leave me, I didn’t mean those things……I didn’t mean to hurt you!" he screamed to seemingly deaf ears.
Many years later, as his nickname, "The Reason," was called, she broke down and sobbed emotionally strong tears of joy as she watched her baby walk up to the stage to accept the holy grail of football, ‘The Heisman Trophy.’ He thanked many people, many programs, his maker up in heaven, and just when the crowd figured he was finished, tears rolled down his face before he continued with the following:
"Finally, I want to attempt to thank my Mom, who by far, is the greatest person…..Ever! The strongest, smartest, and most giving person ever created by God almighty. You know, I’m not really all that you see here today. I was selfish for the better part of my life: I thought life was about me. If you weren’t here to help me, I really had no need for you. I was bitter, and felt the world owed me. I was so bent on redeaming what was surely mine, I almost pushed the only person who had ever loved me out of this world. I took for granted what my Mom went through……….for me. I couldn’t understand or comprehend that a person would sacrifice their life for another. But, I am here to tell you people tonight, that I owe everything I will ever do, to my Mom. Ya know, it’s funny how I sit here tonight and watch my Mom watching me, there in the wheelchair that I alone am responsible for her being in, and cannot fathom how she can still care for me. But, while I can’t fathom how, I unquestionably know that she does. Never once has my Mom ever blamed me, or shown anything less than extreme love for me."
He had to pause as his emotions strongly and authoritatively pushed the tears consistently down his face. Gathering himself and pointing at his Mom in the crowd, he continued, So tonight Mom, I dedicate this trophy to you! All that I do will be for you Mom! Thank you for loving me, and making me who I am today! I LOVE YOU, Mom!!
MOMS…..WE TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED, AND THEY CONTINUE TO LOVE US!! HAPPY MOM’S DAY!
May 15, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Truely awesome read!!!