As I Have Loved You...

Love One Another. I learned a great lesson on Saturday. My two oldest sons were going to homecoming. They had two other couples in their group. Richie had asked a girl I know and like alot. Chip asked a girl from school. I helped him make a cake and saw the balloons she brought to answer. He'd said she was 'in the group' he hangs out with at lunch. Ok. So, on Saturday, I went to their friend's house where they were having dinner to bring some food and take some pictures. I was surprised when I saw Mary, Chip's date. I'm not sure how to say this being politically correct. She was obviously different from the other kids. (I asked him later if she's in special ed. He said he thought so, but wasn't sure. ) I watched these 8 kids as they played games and had dinner, talking and teasing the way teenagers do. Mary was a little shy, but not so much that she missed out on anything. I was impressed by the way they all included Mary and acted as though she were no different from the rest of them. Later, I took pictures of the group in their fancy dance clothes. I thought how this was most likely the only time this girl had been a part of a group like this and it must've been a great night for her. (And, as a mom, I thought how her mother must've felt.) What I learned was how my son sees people. He never even thought to tell me that Mary was any different from his other friends. He told me that another girl asked him if he would ask Mary. Without a single hesitation, he said, 'sure'. He didn't treat it like a 'charity date', nor did he treat her like she was anything different than the other girls there. My heart swelled with love and pride for a son who cares so much for other people. I complain about him alot, but there are moments when I get a glimpse of the man he is becoming and it makes me happy.