There is a Reason

Despite being behind in my preparation for this weekend's show (as usual) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina I had a chance to visit with my mom today and catch up on things going on with her. It is very unusual for us to have not talked in a couple of weeks, even by phone. Generally speaking we touch base with each other several times a week.

I truly admire my mother for a variety of reasons. Throughout my life my friends and those of my brothers always labeled her as a "cool mom." I honestly can't think of a specific reason for that except my mother has always been a terrific listener and full of energy. She treated her young house guests with respect and still managed to keep the poise of a wiser adult without making our friends feel juvenile.

Earlier this week I told you about the summer of '78. One of the memories from that time in my life was playing tennis with my mom. My mother was a marvelous tennis player and played competitively back then. So dad built a tennis court for her and my brothers in the mid-seventies.

Many a summer evening was spent on on that court. There was either a singles match between her and me or one of my brothers, or doubles with a couple of my friends. I distinctly recall having Steve Below and Jonathan Tierney wanting my mother on their side rather than me. And yes, I will admit it. My mom usually beat me in singles.

I've learned over the years just how strong a woman she is. Sandy Waddell is truly the matriarch of our family. We lost our dad, her husband of 32 years, just a few days before his 52nd birthday. She was my business partner for eleven years in the construction industry, a male-dominated profession. But mom was tough. She held her ground and fought for her employees. Ultimately it was her fairness and determination to do the right thing that made us sell the business.

Her life has not always been easy. In fact things have sometimes been very difficult since my dad's passing 15 years ago. But my mom's sense of humor is still the same dark hilarious nature that it always has been. The true fact is that my mom has been the rock that Joan and I have needed since Ben's birth. She adores her second grandson just as much as any of her other grandkids. Just like me and my brothers while growing up she loves them all equally.

But I'd like to believe that Ben is something extra special to her. A special unexpected gift. And today she shared something with me that solidified that thought. I'm not a Bible thumper and I am certainly of the opinion that God meets everyone in different sorts of ways using a variety of religions. I don't want to use this blog as a way of preaching but I sometimes gotta share things that make my life's vision clearer and perhaps help another parent or family understand exceptional living.

This is what mom ran across recently and it was something she really wanted me to hear. I think it is definitely worthy of being blogged so that our friends around the world can perhaps gain insight into why certain things happen in our lives. From the New Testament...

John 9 (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.