Jay brought Chris home from school one afternoon in the sixth grade – he got off of the bus and stole our hearts.
Chris and his Dad lived with his elderly grandparents; the sweetest, kindest, cutest people you could ever imagine. How I wish that I had a picture to post here of Papaw. I still smile when I think of him. He was a small man with a shock of thick white hair, cut in a flat-top. He always wore a pair of crisp overalls and had a twinkle in his eye.
Over the next couple of years, it became more difficult for Mamaw and Papaw, who were already in their late eighties, and for Chris's Dad, who was in poor health, to manage the daily logistics and other issues that are inherent to a middle schooler. So, gradually he began spending more and more time with my parents and Jay.
Then the summer just before he turned fourteen Chris moved in and never left…although he never left the hearts of his Dad, Mamaw, and Papaw. Oh, how they loved him too. We are so lucky that they generously shared this young man with us. And that my parents, Jay, and in small ways from afar, Danny and I, had the opportunity to get to know and help Chris.
Because we all came to know that it is in the giving, offering help, that you are the one that actually receives the gift. Mom and Dad got another son. Jay and I got the brother we thought we would never have. We love Chris totally, completely, unconditionally - he is one of us. Don’t ever forget it.
Happy Birthday Christopher Dale. I know they would all be so proud of you.
Chris and his Dad lived with his elderly grandparents; the sweetest, kindest, cutest people you could ever imagine. How I wish that I had a picture to post here of Papaw. I still smile when I think of him. He was a small man with a shock of thick white hair, cut in a flat-top. He always wore a pair of crisp overalls and had a twinkle in his eye.
Over the next couple of years, it became more difficult for Mamaw and Papaw, who were already in their late eighties, and for Chris's Dad, who was in poor health, to manage the daily logistics and other issues that are inherent to a middle schooler. So, gradually he began spending more and more time with my parents and Jay.
Then the summer just before he turned fourteen Chris moved in and never left…although he never left the hearts of his Dad, Mamaw, and Papaw. Oh, how they loved him too. We are so lucky that they generously shared this young man with us. And that my parents, Jay, and in small ways from afar, Danny and I, had the opportunity to get to know and help Chris.
Because we all came to know that it is in the giving, offering help, that you are the one that actually receives the gift. Mom and Dad got another son. Jay and I got the brother we thought we would never have. We love Chris totally, completely, unconditionally - he is one of us. Don’t ever forget it.
Happy Birthday Christopher Dale. I know they would all be so proud of you.
2 comments:
...and Chris is my cousin (somewhere down the line) -- so that makes me and Dev kin, right? ; )
Happy Birthday Chris -- I love you!
Rhonda
I just wanted to drop a little note and say 'thanks'! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment on Antique Mommy's blog last week that was about advice for new moms. I've printed out all of the comments and am saving them to read over and over again! :) I was greatly encouraged by that post and it meant a lot to me.
Yeah for another puppy mommy!! My lab, Molly, will always be my first baby. I would totally live on a dog farm if I could; they are the BEST!
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