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Tuesday, March 23, 2021

SLICE #23- THE SLIGHTEST SLIVER OF HOPE


 I adopted him 

from the foster care system

when he was 9.

How well I remember that first weekend.

Walking up the sidewalk to my home. Introducing him to the dog.

Taking him to buy shoes. Two pair. Tennis and dress shoes.

"These are beauts!" he declared prancing in front of the mirror.

Taking him to meet my family.

His amazement that he got a whole cheese pizza 

(off the children's menu)

To eat for himself. 

And now he is 27.

The last ten years have been beyond hard.

A blown out knee blowing up his football dreams.

Addiction.

Several hospitalizations for mental health issues.

Car accidents. 

Jail time. 

Abandonment by his brother, former best friend,

who cannot accept the differences 

in how his brain processes the world. 

So much loneliness.

Most recently, four months picking up trash on the side of the highway. 

Lots of people quit. My sweet guy persevered. 

Tonight he has a job interview.

At a warehouse ten miles from our house. 

He dresses up.

Puts on enough aftershave that they will be able to smell him 

from one end of the warehouse to the other. 

I shudder to think of him riding his bike and the light rail at 3 in the morning,

when the shift would end. 

I worry about whether his femur, 

broken eighteen months ago, 

can withstand lifting boxes of paper. 

And yet I pray, that somehow,

something might shine

the slightest sliver of hope

into the life of my big hearted guy. 

The last ten years have been so hard. 

6 comments:

Laura Arnhold said...

All my best to your son! That kind of perseverance is definitely commendable! The slightest sliver of hope is something I can definitely relate to as well!

Heidi's Musings said...

You and your son have been through so much. My heart goes out to the two of you and hope things really do turn around. I wish you the very best.

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing the story of you & your son! Slight slivers are the definition of hope and your love is beautiful.

Ramona said...

Joining you in prayer and hope for your big hearted guy who deserves a break. Kudos to him for persevering and hugs to you, his sweet mama, who has also persevered and continued to love.

Unknown said...

Sending many good wishes from over the ocean. I hope they gather more strength with each mile they take to reach you and your son.

Cathy said...

Wishing all the best for your big hearted son.