A Mother's Day Story

Many moons ago, a young male on the threshold of manhood sat in his driveway in his car.

He didn't know it at the time, but he was wrestling with that transition all kids must make when they leave the nest and travel into adulthood and more responsibility.  In some ways, he didn't realize the effect stress and anxiety could have on his life.

Interestingly enough, the symptom of the stress had been the basketball game he played that evening.  Generally a pretty cool customer on the court, he flat out sucked that evening.  He couldn't concentrate.  He missed nearly everything he threw at the rim.  Not that he was that great of a basketball player to begin with, but normally he did O.K.  Except for this evening.

As this young man looked back on this time, he realized he was worried about choosing his course in life.  Where exactly he would go to college was still up in the air.  What he would major in was extremely cloudy.  Other than having a goal of marrying and getting a very high paying job, there was no sense of call--no sense of vocation in who he was and what he might become.  Having no true sense of direction was weighing heavily on his mind.

But he didn't quite know that was the problem just yet.  All he knew was something wasn't quite right.  He was mad at himself for the way he played.  He was disappointed because he felt he let his team down.  He wanted to talk to someone, but he wasn't quite sure how to do that either.  Society and culture had taught him to bury it, sulk on it, and keep it under wraps unless someone invited you to share.

Unable to reach out, he just sat in the car and waited. 

His parents and sister showed up finally and pulled into the drive way.

And still he sat there.

They all went into the house.

And still he sat there.

The minutes drug on.

And still, he sat there.

Finally, the door of the house opened.  The young man looked up and saw his mother coming.

This is what he had hoped for.  Someone.  Anyone to sit and talk with him.  To help guide him in some form or fashion.  To help him process this messiness of life that he felt ill equipped to deal with.

His mother opened the car door, and they began to talk.

Finally getting the opportunity, the youngster opened up.  He spoke of his  fear.  He spoke of his anxiety.  He laid it all out there, and his mom listened patiently offering a few words here and a few words there to keep the conversation moving.

Sometimes there are moments in life which can be defined as kairotic.  No, that's not a misspelling.  It comes from the Greek word Kairos which indicates time as God sees it.  It is in those kairotic times that we are truly receptive to God's Word for us as it comes to us in various ways.  In this young man's life, such a kairotic moment had arrived.

After patiently listening, the young man's mother spoke, "Kevin, you need to learn to give everything up to God.  You need to learn to trust Him and believe that He will take care of you.  He's done it for me, and I know He will do it for you as well."

Whether she realizes it or not, my mom changed my way of thinking that night.  She gave me a principle to live by, and it is a principle that has given me a firm conviction that things will be O.K. no matter what happens.  I continue to live by it to this day.

Thanks, Mom for taking the time to talk to your son that night and for all the other times you were there for me.  Don't ever think that you didn't have an impact in my life.  You continue to be an inspiration, and I love you.

Happy Mother's Day to you and all the other mother's out there.  May you feel blessed this day and always.