Who knew an 18 year old airport cafe server would be my Mother’s Day counselor?
It was Mother’s day weekend, and life was especially good. With our grown kids scattered across the country, the idea of traveling to Colorado to spend a couple days with our daughter, Amy seemed like a particularly excellent idea.
Before the flight, I stopped at an airport cafe for breakfast. My 18 year old server welcomed me with a smile. It was obvious he was excellent at his job, a genuine people person.
As Lamar delivered my coffee and spinach omelette, we struck up a conversation about Mother’s Day. His face lit up as he talked about his amazing mom. Lamar referred to himself unashamedly as a “mama’s boy.” She must be so proud of her delightful son.
As I finished my breakfast, Lamar returned to check on me, and politely asked me about my mom. I casually responded, “she is in heaven.”
There was no way to predict the tears that would come along with those four simple words.
It had been fifteen years since her sudden “graduation” to heaven. Maybe that’s why the tear tsunami took me so off guard.
I could feel the ache in Lamar’s heart, thinking he had upset me. My new 18 year old counselor melted my heart as he sat down next to me and gently patted my back, assuring me it was OK to cry.
I didn’t have the heart to tell Lamar, through the mascara dripping down my cheek, that I spend much of my life speaking and writing to help other people find hope after loss. Nor did I have the guts to tell him his words are quoted almost verbatim in my book, Grief Survivor~ 28 Steps toward Hope and Healing. I doubt he would have believed me anyway!
Lamar’s compassion and kind words reminded me that it really is OK to cry; and it’s OK to laugh– no matter how long it’s been.
If you’re missing someone this Mother’s Day season, I pray the Lord will place an angel like Lamar on your path when you need him most.