A Boy and His Mom!

Lately I have been thinking about a book, my favorite childhood book. This book has helped me a lot over the years, if I am ever feeling down and blue, I read this book, and it helps me to remember how much I have been given. This book especially reminds me of my mom! I know she enjoys my company, and she has given me so much, and has made so many sacrifices not just me, but all my siblings and many others.

From this book I have learned that the activities which we do with those we love don’t matter too much, but the time we spend with them do.

So now I want to thank my mom for all the great time we have spent together! Started about 22 years ago. I spent about 9 months with her, nagging her here and there when I was hungry. Giving her a “gentle” kick when I was excited for no reason. After those 9 months of darkness for me, she went through the greatest pain known to man for many hours for me! I grew up, learned to walk, to talk, and to eat! During all this she was continually looking over me, brushing off the dirt, cleaning my ever messy face, and teaching me how to be a better person. I spent almost every day with her, then it seemed like I started growing up faster and faster. Ended up in school, getting confused over these things called words, and always asking my mom for help with my “country English!”

 I then got into the school for big kids, and got a job. Being away from home for most of the day and most of the week. I then grew up even more, and was asked to go away from my family for 2 years. I was asked to teach others how they could get the opportunity to live with their families for more than just this mortal life. Teaching them how to forgive and forget others mistakes, and help them to come closer as a family. All these things my mom taught me these many years. Now I am home, getting to spend that much needed time with my mom.

In these next few years I will grow old, and have to move out, but I know that I will always be able to return to spend time with my mom. I will be able to borrow her apples, branches, trunk and stump. The book that I so loved as a child is “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. In this book the tree gives up much for this “boy.” She gives him apples, her branches and trunk. She last of all gives him a place to rest his old frail body.

These different things the tree gives to this boy is very symbolic. The apples stand for our wants, the boy wanted to make money, so she gives him her apples to take to the city to sell. The boy then returns saying that he wants to start a family and needs a home. So she gives him her branches, his needs, so that he can build a home for his future family can stay in. Many years later the boy returns, saying he isn’t that happy and that he wants a boat to go far away. So the tree then gives him her trunk so he can make a boat. The trunk represents the value of work and the rewards of hard work. After many years the boy comes back, now old and very tired. The tree says she has nothing to give him, and he says that he doesn’t need anything except a place to rest. So the tree gives all that she has left, her love for him.

Our mothers have been through a lot, they have been through the drama of life. They have felt the pains of this world. They have seen much sorrow in their lives and our lives. They have had to deal with the immatureness of our dads! I don’t know how they have been able to withstand all this madness, but I am grateful for what my mom has and is continually doing for me!

Thank you mom for your heart full of love. Thank you for being the best teacher I have ever had! Thank you for being there when I am in the most need. Thank you for helping me to love others.