"Brace Yourself: My New Book Will Shatter Your Heart and Put It Back Together Again!"

Topic 17: Live with Intention, Not Apology - Plan a surprise for someone who needs it!

It had been a long time since I had seen my mom. Over two years, to be exact. Two years of trainings and deployments, —time that stretched out into what felt like an eternity. But now, I was finally home, and I couldn’t wait to surprise her.

My dad, Bryan, had picked me up at the Atlanta airport. It had been an emotional reunion at the terminal—tears, laughter, and the kind of bear hugs that only dads can give. But I had a plan. I wasn’t going to walk through the front door and announce my return. No, I wanted to catch my mom completely off guard.

Dad drove the two hours back home, and the entire time, we chatted about everything—sports, life updates, and all the things I had missed. But all I could think about was the moment I’d finally walk into the house and see my mom’s reaction.

“Your gonna go in first, and I’ll sneak in 5 minutes behind you,” I said, my voice full of mischief.

Dad raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to do it this way son? She’s been waiting for you for so long.”

“I know, but I want it to be perfect,” I replied, excitement bubbling up inside me.

5 minutes had passed. I grabbed my duffel bag from the car, slung it over my shoulder, and quietly made my way to the front of the house. I crept in through the door, the familiar creak of the door giving me a small sense of nostalgia. Slowly, I made my way into the living room, where I saw my mom sweeping in the kitchen, her back to me, lost in the simple motion.

I stood still for a moment, just watching her. She hadn’t aged much, but there were subtle signs of time—more gray hairs, a few more wrinkles, but her spirit was the same. The thought of all the moments she had lived through while I was away hit me hard. I felt a mix of guilt, love, and excitement swell in my chest.

Then, without another second of hesitation, I sat down quietly on the couch.

The room was still, and the only sound was the low sweeping of the broom. My mom didn’t even flinch at first. I waited.

Finally, I spoke, my voice the one thing that could break the spell: “Hey, Mom what's for dinner?”

The effect was immediate.

Shannon's body stiffened, her head snapping to the side in disbelief. Her eyes went wide as she slowly registered the familiar voice, the one she hadn’t heard in so long. She blinked several times, unable to process what was happening.

“Me?!” Her voice cracked as she dropped the broom, her hand flying to her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took a step back, her gaze darting between my face and the rest of the room, like she was trying to confirm that it was really me.

Before she could say another word, I stood up, pulled her into my arms, and held her tight. She was shaking with disbelief and joy. I could feel her heart pounding against mine, and for a moment, everything else in the world disappeared.

“I’m home, Mom,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m home.”

The next few hours were a blur of laughter, happy tears, and stories. This was the moment I’d been waiting for—the moment when the distance, the time apart, and the uncertainty all melted away with the warmth of my mother’s voice.

When we sat down for dinner, the whole family gathered around the table, and my mom looked at me with a proud, knowing smile. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said, “but I think you’re going to be stuck with me for a while now.”

I laughed, feeling a sense of peace that I hadn’t known in years. I was home, and nothing else mattered.