Long, long ago in a galaxy far away from ours, people knew that “it took a village to raise a child”. It was a time when people looked out for one another, especially when it came to helping. Someone usually had your back.
I’d like to tell you a story about our village raising a child. There is a single mom in our town with three beautiful daughters. They moved to this area the same year we did. This mom loves her girls very much and has tried to teach them good values. It has not been easy for her to raise them. As with many single moms, her income is very small. She is unable to drive so her choices are limited. And she has struggled for years with a drug addiction.
The girls were between the ages of six and ten when they first arrived. Two are still in high school- one graduated last year and goes to a local college. They are smart, caring, compassionate girls. They have all participated in sports and other school activities. They love their mother.
I saw the oldest the other day working for our local parks and recreation department. The sight of her giving back to the community brought tears to my eyes. I know so well what she and her sisters could have turned into but this town would not let that happen.
Sport participation through the years has been paid for by local citizens. The beginning of each school year has seen someone taking them school shopping. Bags of clothes have been dropped at their door numerous times. Phones have been provided, food donated, rides given and safe homes made available as needed.
Others have gone to games to cheer them on, checked on report cards, and offered shoulders to cry on. They have been included family vacations and other outings. The girls have always been grateful and appreciative but I’m not sure they will truly understand what amazing things have happened until they are much older.
They struggle sometimes with the residue of such a life. They may always have scars but I hope that the day will come when they will remember the “village that raised” them. I pray they will have an understanding of how much love has been sent their way. Those inevitable days will come when they question their self-worth and their mother’s inability to choose their well being over her next fix. I think that at those times if they will hold tight to the love of all the other mothers they have known maybe it will be enough.
And I know that crowns of glory await all those mother hens who gathered the strays to their bosoms. I wish more of us could follow their example. That’s the view from my side of the street, what’s yours?
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