The Safest Place You'll Ever Be

?Every single time I take a visit to my hometown, I am struck by all of the things that have changed but in my mind’s eye, still remain the same. I remember the playground at the elementary school across the street from my house where old friends would gather for a game of 21, horse or pick sides for a game. There are no rims, backboards or swings there anymore as that school is now an annex.

There’s the church that also sits directly in front of my house that played the chimes each hour, telling all who could hear the time. Each night at 9:30, those church chimes would play the most beautiful song; I never found out the name but I can still hum it just the same. On most nights my crew would be gathered not too far from the church, talking, dreaming, playing catch, and just having the most innocent fun. They don’t hold church there anymore as they built a new building about two miles away. Those places hold a special meaning for me but none can compare to the hill that leads to the old grocery store behind our house. It’s not quite the hill it used to be but it’s still there nonetheless and has a special meaning. 

When I was around 5, just about every day as my siblings and father were at school and work, my mother and I would walk down to get groceries then walk back up to bring them home. The walk down was no problem as she held my little hand, we talked, laughed, she told me things she needed and asked me not to forget (knowing full well that she wouldn’t). 

The walk home was different; for a small woman like her and a small child like me, the walk home…could at times be tough. There was no plastic back then, just paper and I can vividly remember the days when she struggled to carry those bags and wishing I were big and strong enough to help. Yes, I remember seeing her struggle but what I recall the most is that no matter how much those bags held, no matter how much they challenged her, or how out of breath her little body became…is that she always found enough strength onto hold my hand.

Our neighborhood is nestled just off of a highway and cars would zoom through the parking lot and streets with reckless abandon. Stray German Shepherds, big ones, roamed the roads and racism was so much more overt. But as I sat and focused on that hill I can honestly say in all those days when those things and more were swirling around us, I was never once afraid. In fact, in all the days before and all of the many days that have passed since then, I can honestly say that the palm of her hand…was the safest place I have ever been…

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It’s the most beautiful time of the year where we celebrate the most beautiful people God ever created; mothers. If you’re blessed enough to have yours, spend some time with her, focusing on her. Then think about all of those hills the two of you have climbed together when no matter what load she was carrying, she always found the strength to hold onto your hand.   I’m sure you’ll agree…

It’s the safest place…you’ve ever been…