When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to attend a Christian contemporary concert with the youth group from our church.To my 1 , Aaron invited me to go along.I 2 accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, my youngest son had been ill, and I was 3 about him.My husband 4 me to attend the concert, promising he would take care of our youngest.I hesitated.
Finally, it 5 me.Aaron was sixteen years old.How many 6 would I have to do something fun with him 7 he went away to college? And how many youth actually 8 their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly for teens? The 9 was made.I would not miss this opportunity.
At the concert, I sat with Aaron in the third row, stuffing(填塞)cotton in my ears to block out the 10 , ear-splitting music of the first performer.I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they clapped, and never let anyone know how 11 I was to feel the floor vibrate(震动)beneath my feet.Aaron and his friends were 12 at my enthusiasm.
By the time we left the concert, my ears were ringing, but it quickly passed. 13 did my son's teenage years. 14 he was in college and away from home.I missed him more than I could say.On days when I was especially 15 for his ready smile and his teasing manner, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again that I didn't 16 an opportunity to spend time with my son.
Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but we are still very 17 .Some days he calls just to 18 and tell me about his day.I drop everything and 19 the moment, knowing these times too shall 20 .
In my third year as a high school athletics coach, I gave a speech telling students and parents about the benefits of football.I gave the same 1 each year, aimin g at recruiting(招收)new team members.I talked about 2 football wasn't just for 3 athletes and how everyone could 4 from it.This year, a 5 looking couple approached me after my speech.They said their son really wanted to play football.They had tried to 6 him out of it, but he had his heart 7 on joining the team.
When they told me his name, my heart sank.Michael was five feet and ten inches tall and weighed about 108 pounds.He was a 8 boy, the constant target of other kids' jokes, and as far as I knew he had never 9 sports.I knew he would never 10 it through football practice, let 11 as a player.But we told them we could give it a try.
On the opening day of practice, Michael was the first player on the field, we did 30 minutes of warming-up 12 starting a one-mile jog around the track.I 13 my eye on Michael.At 50 yards he fell, and I helped him to his feet.“Michael,”I said,“Why don't you just 14 the mile?”He said in tears that he wanted to run with the others, so I let him go on. 15 he fell, but each time 16 himself up.
The same thing happened every day for weeks, and Michael gained strength both 17 and physically.By the last week of practice, Michael could run the mile without falling, we had 18 only one game that season, 19 the team cheered louder for Michael's run than the victory they had, Afterward, Michael approached me, and I told him how 20 I was of him.