Sunday, July 17, 2011

Que -- The Soundtrack "Stand By Me"


One of our family's  favorite movies growing up was "Stand By Me".
Who can forget 'The great puke-arama'?  We had a ball using our VCR to slow motion forward and reverse the results of the tainted pie eating contest.
Even today just hearing Duh -duh-duh - DUH....... makes me smile.

When the night has come

And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

I heard a story on the radio from Chuck Colson's daughter Emily about the challenges of raising her autistic son Max.
Shopping in public with Max has been one of Emily's most dreaded scenarios.  She never knows when he'll have an emotional melt down and cause a scene. 
One day they were in Whole Foods and Max threw a fit.  He literally  fell to the floor and kicked and screamed. 
Shoppers looked on with blistering glares.  Emily could read the messages in their eyes.
"You are the mother -- get your child under control!"
Knowing that Max was to big to pull from the store and that an autistic child can not be reasoned with, bribed  or threatened like most children she just positioned herself between the ever widening circle of judgemental shoppers and looked down in shame to avoid their stares.
After a few long moments Emily saw a pair of feet standing next to her own and heard a woman's voice say; "I'll stand here with you as long as it takes.  I'm right here by your side.  Tell me if I can do anything but I'm not leaving you."
Eventually Max wore himself out and the gawkers resumed their shopping, forgetting the whole scene.
But Emily never forgot.
I will never forget the feet that have stood by mine these last eight weeks as I have tended my mother.  If you are reading this -- Thank You.

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