My Shining Star

[Palaver]

I was just getting out of my car from being in Wichita all day when my
youngest son came running out of his house with a big grin on his
face.
"Mom! My awards banquet is tonight!"
"What are you talking about, my boy?" I was tired and clueless
and certainly not into any kind of banquets.
Directly behind him, was his brother Beau, his step mom and his
dad. They were just leaving to go to his high school awards banquet,
that I had known nothing about until that moment.
"We didn't know anything about it either!" Paula assured me. "It
wasn't until he came home from school, that we found out. Are you
going?"
Of COURSE I wanted to go but I needed to let Nikki out and
collect my wits a bit. My gas gauge was sitting precariously close to
empty. I wasn't sure if I could make it over to Chapman and back and
like I said, I was tired from the drive but of course I wanted to go!
That was without question.
After they drove off and I had given Nikki some serious
attention, since to her six hours of being gone might as well have
been six days, I looked at myself in the mirror to see if I was
presentable and made up my mind, if I had to beg, borrow or steal the
money for gas, since walking wasn't an option if I wanted to be there
for the main event, I was going and I gave them a quick call on Beau's
cell phone to let them know I'd be there.
The smile on my son's face when I walked in was worth more than
millions to me as I walked up and sat at his table beside him.
After a delicious meal, it was announced that we were to all go
to the auditorium for the presentation of the awards, where my son, my
own, was given the Family Consumer Science Student of the Year Award
for his outstanding achievements.
My baby, who, like his brother Beau, for whatever reasons (and I
have my theory), has battled petit mall seizures at the rate of one
every fifteen seconds, since his infant inoculations, who, according
to some teachers and faculty, would never read or write, was standing
on the stage, in front of God and everybody, with that sweet smile of
his, receiving his Student of the Year award!!
This child of mine who has the sweetest nature of any of my
children, who has taught me more than I could ever teach him, has
shown me the true spirit of meekness.
All the times, no matter where I happened to be, whether it was a
thousand miles away or across the street, when he would tell me the
kids were making fun of him at school and on the bus, calling him a
retard, came flooding back to me in that moment. As much as it pained
me to hear him telling me these things, I never let him know it. I
would always reply. "Well? Were you acting like a retard?"
"No!" He'd shoot back. As if!
"Well, I didn't THINK so. You and I know you're not a retard, so
I wouldn't worry about it my boy. Who cares what they're calling you?
Who are THEY anyway? Do THEY have the credentials to diagnose your
condition? Are THEY anybody of importance or substance?" I always
talked to him like it was THEY who had something to worry about, not
him.
"Well no." He answered indignantly, as if it was the most absurd
thing he'd ever heard of.
"That's what I thought! So then I wouldn't worry about THEM!
Sheesh! THEY are only showing THEIR ignorance. Don't you know that?"
And after a little humoring and encouragement each time, he would go
back to doing his thing, whatever it was, with a happy smile and a
whole different attitude. So priceless and easily led. How I love that
about him! That's my boy! Tell ME dreams don't come true!
I only wish I could take all of the credit for his achievments
but that would just be too phony for words. But allow me this much;
the satisfaction of knowing the apple doesn't fall too far from the
tree. ;-)
My Josiah True, you are my shining star! Don't ever doubt for a
second this mom's love for you---as well as your other mom's. *wink* I
am so proud of you! You are a hero in my eyes and I LOVE YOU!