Blessings

As I posted last night, we have spent the past 2 evenings at the girls' last school play. It was a little emotional for all of us moms who have seniors and there were a few tears. However, there is one mom "Melissa" who openly sobbed.

Melissa is a nice lady. She tries so hard to be a good parent. However, Melissa also has a learning disability so her maturity level is more along the lines of a pre-teen than an adult. But, as I said, she is completely devoted to her daughter and there is a love there that runs very deep. Melissa was married and got divorced many years ago. For several years she has lived with a man who is not a nice man at all. He comes to basketball games (the daughter plays) with a strong alcohol scent on his breath. He never talks to anyone and in all the years I've known who he is, I have never seen this man smile.

The daughter and Melissa both have been seen with bruises, and the daughter has said that he is the cause of them. When Ashley told us this a couple of years ago, we immediately called the school At Risk counselor who assured us she would look into this. I don't know whatever happened with all of this, but the 3 of them still live in the same home together.

As she gets older, the daughter gets more and more negative. She used to be friends with my girls, but as her attitude has gotten worse, they have drifted farther apart. When I see her though, she gives me a hug and I see hope in her eyes. I have told her to remember that she is amazing and she can do anything in life she sets her mind too. I hope she listens.

Back to Melissa...She is a tiny lady, less than 5' tall and maybe 100lbs tops. She wears her hair short and curly (a mess really) and her clothes are old and ragged. Way back when the girls were all young, the daughter was on the same basketball tournament team with Ashley & Chelsea and Melissa would have her to the practices before we even got there. She stayed through all the practices and would ask Jay questions in order to help her daughter learn the game better.

Many have shunned this lady because of the way she looks, dresses and because her immaturity makes her blurt out sometimes inappropriate things, but if you look beyond all of that you will see a mother who loves her only child and is more devoted than anyone could ask for.

We brought roses for each of our girls to give to them after the final performance. Melissa brought 2 flowers, 2 balloons and they were tied together along with a bag of candy. When she saw me she couldn't wait to show me what she had for her daughter. She was so proud as she talked about how she couldn't wait to give them to her.

When the play was over and everyone had gone the through the line to congratulate all the kids in the play, and pictures were taken, Jay & walked back through the auditorium to go out a side door to our car. There was Melissa, alone and sobbing. We went over to her and she kept saying "I can't believe it's almost over. I can't believe it." She went on to say that after one more vocal concert and track season, it will be over. Yes, she said, the daughter is going to college and Melissa said "I've already driven the route so I know it's almost 2 hrs away. That's so far away and I will miss her so much." I gave her a hug and my heart broke for her.

Yes, of course I am torn up inside at the thought that in a couple of short months my little girls will start new chapters in their lives. I get tears in my eyes if I allow myself to think about it. It breaks my heart to know that at least one of them will be moving out of our home this summer, likely to never live here again. It makes me so sad to know the life we have known is about to change.

But, I also have hope for the future. I am excited for them for all the adventures they will have. While this one chapter is over, a new one is beginning. We have 4 more years of following Austin through his high school years, and beyond that who knows what changes will arise. While I'm sad that things have to change, I'm also excited to see what new paths God will lead us through.

It makes me count my blessings. I have a husband I love and who, even after all this time, is still my best friend. I have 3 wonderful children who make me so proud. I have family and friends who I know I can count on in times of trial and whom I love very much. I have a nice home to live in, enough food to satisfy my hunger, and a life full of promises. Most importantly, I have a God who loves me and is there for me and has ensured us of a never ending life of love and happiness with him. These are the blessings I am so grateful for.

As I lay down last night to go to sleep, I again thought about Melissa. She is included in my prayers now. I pray that she is given the hope for the future she desperately needs. She has lived her life for her daughter and now is a lost soul. Please dear Lord, take her in your arms.