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The month of February having been designated the "love
month" is usually meant only for "Sweethearts." However,
what could be more precious than the love expressed between
a parent and child - in January, no less? So often, we
assume that our family members know that we love them, and
we neglect to affirm those sentiments. Therefore, when I
received an email entitled "Just Because," from my
second-born son, Danny, my response was immediate. I
struggled to see through my tears as I read his words, and
wrote my response.
Danny, who is 22, lives on his own these days. He hadn't
come for his usual weekend visit, and I missed him. My
husband and I have always tried to have some family time
together, either on Sundays or mid week, with our grown
children. Sometimes, we have dinner and a movie, or we just
visit, catching up on their latest adventures and future
plans. Often, we end up singing one song after another, as
our boys play their guitars for us.
Danny loves
all kinds of music, and can entertain a roomful of strangers
with his funny, spontaneous personality. He has an amazing
memory of almost any song he hears. When he was a teenager,
I recall thinking we may have the next Rap Star living in
our home; He could "flow" with the best of them.
That river of
rhyme still comes tumbling out occasionally; however, he's
become fonder of Christian and Country music songs, these
days. Maybe it's because the words seem to "hit home."
Randy Travis sings a song, which Danny has played on his
guitar; it's called Three Wooden Crosses. Part of the chorus
goes like this:
???It's not what you take when you
leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you,
when you go.???
Invariably,
it leaves me a little weepy when I hear Danny sing it; I
think of the day he'll have only faded memories of his dad
and me, when our time is done. I often wonder if we've given
enough.
I've tried to demonstrate to my family that
sharing from the heart is the richest investment we could
ever make in this life; it will never fail to produce the
greatest return. This truth was clearly validated when I
opened my email that day; I felt the deposit of love settle
deep into my heart once more. A simple note from Danny
affirming his feelings for me, for no reason, made me feel
like a millionaire!
Naturally, I
was moved to tears, but quickly replied with my own
sentimental deposit. I now share our precious exchange
(with his permission) as an ending of this story; hoping
that it will remind all of us to take time to speak our
hearts to those we love. Even after the "Love Month of
February" has passed us by, may our deposits of love
increase ??¦ just because.
(In a message
dated 1/19/04 8:33:28 AM)- Danny writes:)
Subject: JUST
BECAUSE
HI MOM,
JUST WRITING TO SAY HELLO, AND TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH
I LOVE YOU.
I KNOW WE ARE
ALL BUSY DOING DIFFERENT THINGS BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
I THINK OF YOU GUYS ALL THE TIME, AND THAT YOU AND DAD AND
JASON AND ALISHA ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T WANT
YOU TO WORRY ABOUT ME ALL THE TIME BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE TO,
BECAUSE YOU??™RE MY MOM. JUST KNOW THAT I AM BEING GOOD AND
USING WISDOM, AND THAT THE ONLY REASON I AM SUCCESSFUL IS
BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU AND DAD RAISED ME. AND WITHOUT YOUR
LOVE AND GUIDANCE, I WOULD BE NO WHERE.
SO HAVE A
BEAUTIFUL DAY AND REMEMBER THAT YOUR "BABY BOY" IS ALWAYS
THINKING OF YOU. BYE
LOVE,
DANNY
My response
included a photo of Danny and me on Mother's Day -
hopefully, you can view it.
*********
Dear Sweet Danny,
What a
surprise to find a special note from my "baby boy" in my
mailbox! Thank you, Honey, for thinking of me and taking the
time to write.
Danny, you
are right, I do worry. I can't help myself, and I think God
put that extra glitch into the heart of parents world wide
to let us know how HE feels about His own children -- all of
us. My parental love, concern and worry is merely a fraction
of what the Lord's desires and emotions are for us, and it
causes me to understand his heart that much more.
You know,
Danny, amidst the pile of worry about your safety and life
choices, I DO have a bucketful of pride for all that you are
and have become. You're sensible and sensitive,
self-controlled and compassionate, fun loving and
determined, freethinking and creative, intuitive and
intelligent, whimsical but wise beyond your years! You have
much to offer the world, my son. Your heart is a tapestry of
love that touches so many lives, and your family is blessed
because you continue to touch ours. Being all that God
intended you to be, is my deepest request for you, Danny. I
know you are on the right road.
My heartstrings are full and resounding with appreciation
for the son that God gave to me 22 years, 7 months and one
day ago ... you are my pride and joy and I love you more
than you will ever know. Thank you for thinking of me today
and for acting on the love in your heart. You mean so much
to your family, and far more to your dad and me. Words can
never truly express the things a heart can hold. Tears fill
my eyes as I contemplate what a gigantic gift God gave to me
in such a tiny bundle so long ago. How could I have been so
blessed?!
Go forward
each day, and brighten the world around you, Son. Open your
heart to the wonders that your Heavenly Father has in store
for you. For as you live out your life, we are all here
cheering you on! Especially your mom. I cannot promise that
I will stop worrying, or praying for you. That is my job,
and I embrace it with all of my heart. But I promise you
that I will always be here for you, as long as God allows me
to, and I will love you unconditionally.
Thank you for
blessing me today, Danny - "just because" is the perfect
reason to reach out and tell someone how much you care for
them, and my heart is full today ??¦ just because of you!
With all my love, ...
Mom
?© Ginger Boda
- January 2004
Rhymerbabe@aol.com
Ginger
is an award winning author for Starfish, and contributor to
various other online publications, such as Heartwarmers,
Write2theheart, Insight of the Day, 2theHeart,
Storytime_Tapestry, HeartTouchers and Petwarmers. She
weaves faith, tradition and humor into her stories and
poetry, as she strives to lift the spirit and cheer the
heart. One of her stories,
The Ring of
Love,
is featured in Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul
- to
be released January 27th 2004. Ginger
resides in Southern California with her husband Mark of 27
years. They have three grown children, who have enriched
their lives every day: Jason, 25; Danny, 22; and Alisha, 20.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May you be blessed today.
Bob Johnston
Editor / Publisher
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