Patches From the Blanket of Life

Are You My Mother?

“I wish I was dead!” Our twelve year old, Michael spouted. “Everyone at school doesn’t like me and my grades are bad and I hate school!”

We were all sitting on the end of our bed where most of our family talks occurred. It was interesting how comforting  ‘mom and pops’ bed was

when the children needed to talk, however; this particular talk turned into a shocking realization!

As Michael poured out his heart to us, Norm and I were trying our best to encourage Michael by reminding him about the blessings in his life.

“Why Michael, you have a warm house to shelter you from the cold and rain, a roof over your head, a loving family, food in abundance and a nice Christian school to attend and you have the assurance that you are going to heaven. Somehow, Michaels’ and Bryans’ biological mother came up and Bryan said, “But wait! You’re my mom!” Looking with pleading eyes at me, I could tell that even though Norm and I had talked pretty candidly about the children’s biological mother, that Bryan had somehow blocked that out of his mind, and all he could remember was me. “I remember, mom, you changed my diaper and I had a blue bottle.” Norm and I began to explain to Bryan that Norm had been married before and that his real mother lived here in town. All Bryan could communicate, through copious tears at that point was, “Are you my mom? Are you going to be my mom forever?” For some crazy reason, I couldn’t promise Bryan that I would be his mother forever because I kept thinking, what if I go and promise him that I am going to be his mother forever and then the Lord has a different plan and takes me home to heaven. Then Bryan would really be disillusioned.

I wanted to get some outside counsel on my thinking and how I could comfort Bryan, however; all the elders and our pastor were gone on a men’s retreat. The next morning I did get a hold of one of our pastors and he shared with me that Bryan knows now that I am not his mother but he is looking for security and comfort and that it would be okay to tell him that I am his mother to settle him down.

Just after I hung up the phone from brother, (pastor) Preston, the principle from Bryans’ school called me and he said that Bryan was squatting down outside his classroom door and wouldn’t go in. I explained that Bryan just came to the realization that I wasn’t his real mom. Then I asked Mr. Van Meter if I could come and get Bryan out of school. He said, “By all means!”

As I drove slowly onto the school grounds, Bryan saw my car and broke into a sprint! He ran along side of my car and swung the car door open and yelled, “Are you my mother?!” “Yes, I’m your mother!” I was filled with emotion, as I put on the brake and Bryan threw himself between the stirring wheel and my body. We wept over each other for a while and then we went home. At home, we talked about anything and everything that he wanted to know. Bryan was so precious and tender as he asked question after question. I felt bonded to him in a way that only God could bond two people together.

I thank the Lord that he helped us through this tough spot in the road.