Weathered Love

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Inspirational # 67

For years I have raised my now 16 year old son, as a single mother, and have often wondered if my guidance has given him what I consider to be a healthy basis for life.
The struggles to discipline, while offering a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen, have been overwhelming. This balancing act of strength and tenderness has left me weary at times for the past 13 years we've been on our own. However, the following event, which occurred when he was about 10 years old, left me feeling very fulfilled in my role as both mother and protector.
It was the end of the school year and as is typical of living in the Midwest, the school had just held an all-day event on tornadoes and weather that often accompanies the spring months in Missouri. As luck would have it, soon after, we had the experience of being awakened from our sleep by the sound of severe weather sirens ringing throughout our small little town.
Ryan knew exactly what we needed to take with us to the basement as wee scurried for a safe haven. I grabbed the flashlight and small portable TV while he grabbed his favorite blanket and his best buddy, Molly, our cat.
He was very calm and seemed to take his responsibilities in this potential disaster with great seriousness. As we made our way down the flight of stairs into the basement he began to explain to me all the precautions and procedures that needed to be taken. During the class at school, the children had been instructed that the safest corner of the basement was the southwest corner.
As we approached the bottom of the stairs, Ryan conveyed this to me and then looking at me through the most protective eyes I've ever seen, he said, "You take that one, mom". Not realizing at 10 years old that the southwest corner could be shared in this situation, his first thought was to protect his mother.
We made it through that night with a new respect for weather and the blessing of not actually experiencing a tornado, just a threat. But the act of love and selflessness my son gave me that night definitely blew me away.

SUBMITTED BY: Jenny (LITTLE1NJESUS)