Thanksgiving conversation with my son….I was making his school lunch this morning – sandwich, peeled clementine, 6 pieces of Doritos chips, and 1 swiss roll cake for desert. He’s finishing up his breakfast and looks over to me….and we began our first Thanksgiving conversation.
Son: Mother, do you know that Thanksgiving is a special holiday? It’s a very special holiday to share with the people we love.
Me: That’s right, it is a special holiday.
Son: Well you love me right? And I’m extra special too right?
Me: Yep! (I’m thinking to myself…there’s got to be a request coming soon here every time he uses the term “mother”)
Son: Mother, I think that it would be very nice of you if you really do love me a lot and I’m extra special that you can surprise me in my school lunch for the Thanksgiving holiday. Oh not the real holiday because I don’t have school, but the days that I still have school before the real holiday. Do you get what I’m saying to you?
Me: Hmmmm….well let me think of a surprise for you. I could surprise you at school and eat lunch with you? How about that?
Son: Well….mother, you don’t have to come to my school. I said just put it in my school lunch.
Me: Ok. I will think of something since you are so special then.
Son: Mother, I have an idea for you already. You can just put 2 swiss roll cakes in my lunch and I’ll know you love me a lot because you never give me 2 even when it comes in 2, you only give me 1. I think I will feel special on Thanksgiving holiday at school if that happened to me.
Me: Hmmm….well let me think about that.
Son: He walks over and hugs me…. “Mom, you are the best mom!” “Wait, you are my only mom forever”It’s small moments like these that makes me feel happy, content, and blessed.
For my son today…. “My Son” by Richard Michael Gabriel – I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
My Son
He came into her life one day
A healthy baby boy
His tiny hands and gentle smile
Became her pride and joy
She brought him home that winters day
And rocked him in her chair
Then softly whispered in his ear
This heartfelt solemn prayer:
Lord, forgive me
For any wrongs Ive done
Lead me with your guiding hand
And help me raise my son
I know that I may stumble
And trip along the way
But Ill never turn my back on you
Or what youve given me today
She married young with hopes and dreams
Like many lovers start
But time would show them different roads
And so they grew apart
He came to her a young man now
Said, Help me understand
She looked into his tearful eyes
Then took him by the hand
And she said
Please believe me, son
You are not to blame
Sometimes its just the way things go
But even when the sun wont shine
I love you just the same
Till the day that I draw my last breath
That will never change
Many years have come and gone
And lifes fulfilled its plan
She watched her healthy baby boy
Grow into a man
Her humbled heart and gentle soul
Were thankful for that day
She closed her eyes and bowed her head
And said this as she prayed:
You forgave me
For all the wrongs Ive done
You lead me with your guiding hand
And helped me raise my son
And even though I stumbled
And tripped along the way
You never turned your back on me
Or what you gave to me that day!