The week before Thanksgiving, I got the note sent home from school that I have been dreading for a year and a half. It was an invitation to "Bring your Mom to Lunch". This story was inspired by the events of that day.
Her hair was up in a pony tail.
Her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was lunch with Mommy day.
And she just couldn’t wait to go.
So I slowly tried to tell her,
It was okay if she wanted to stay home.
The kids at class may not understand,
If she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid or nervous,
She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates,
Of why she wasn’t there that day.
But still she had me worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
I urged my daughter to stay home.
But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all.
About a Mom she never sees,
A Mom who never calls.
Mommy’s were sitting at every table,
For everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called,
A student from the class.
To introduce their Mommy,
As the seconds slowly passed.
And then the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
For a Mom who wasn’t there.
“Where’s her Mommy?”
She heard a boy call out.
“She probably doesn’t have one,”
Another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard another Mommy say,
“Looks like another neglecting Mom,
Too busy to waste her day.”
The words did not offend her,
She smiled thinking of her Mom.
And looked back at the teacher,
Who told her to go on.
She put her hands behind her back,
Then slowly began to speak.
And out from the mouth of this child,
Came words incredibly unique.
“My Mommy couldn’t be here,
Because she lives so far away.
But I know she would if she could,
Since this is such a special day.”
“And though you cannot meet her,
I wanted you to know.
All about my Mommy,
And how much she loves me so.”
“She sits to do arts and crafts with me,
She taught me to draw and write.
She helped me plant red roses,
And we look at the stars at night.”
“We used to share fudge sundaes,
She cooked me dinners at our home.
And though you cannot see her,
I’m not standing her alone.”
“Cause my Mommy’s always with me,
Even though we are apart.
I know because she told me,
She’s forever in my heart.”
With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest.
She felt her own heart beating,
Beneath her long and flowing dress.
From the back of the crowd full of Mom’s,
My eyes filled up with tears.
Proudly watching Lilly,
Who was wise beyond her years.
This strong little girl, so full of love,
For a Mom just like her so.
Sharing the traits her Mom portrayed,
But too young to even know.
She stood up, for the love,
Of a woman not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what she knew was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message was clear and loud.
“I love my Mommy very much,
She’s my shining star.
And if she could, she’d be here,
But heaven is just too far.”
“You see, she is an Angel,
And she died, just this past year.
When God decided what was best,
And helped her with her fear.”
“But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It’s like she never went away.”
And then she closed her eyes real tight,
and saw her there that day.
And to my complete amazement,
I witnessed with surprise,
A room full of Mom’s and Children,
All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw that day,
Who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw her at their side.
“I know you’re with me Mommy”
To the silence she called out.
What happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a beautiful long stemmed red rose.
And my child was blessed,
If only for a moment,
By the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
That heaven is never too far.
I am so proud of Lilly. Although these words above are not all her exact words, I paraphrased to make them rhyme, they are the basic story told by her that day. Her energy and love of life creates a confidence that is so reminiscent of her Mother, it is scary. (in a good way)
This story was inspired by the events of that day, but I also must give credit to an unknown author I recently read that helped put the idea of this style in my head.
Just like the rest of the Moms and Children in the classroom, you are welcome to believe what you want. I know I do.