The 11th anniversary of my mothers passing was yesterday. Although the years since that sad day have tempered my grief...I miss her more today than ever. If you had the blessing of knowing her you may understand my feelings. Her love for her family was unconditional...this was never a term she used...she just lived that way. The example of parenting she set for me and my brothers is as wonderful as it is, at least in my case, unreachable. She set the bar so high that I often feel like a complete failure as a parent...even though I gave parenting a decent effort. But, just like in baseball, you can shine like an all-star in the minors...and still get your tail kicked in the bigs. You have no idea how many times I have peered into the dugout of the past...pleading for her to come in the game and take the ball from me. And all I ever see is a dark dugout and no sign of relief. Oh, I get lots of advice from the bleachers in life...stay in the game...keep your head up...just get this batter...and on and on. I hear their words and I know they mean well. Some of them even love me...in spite of blowing so many big leads...and giving up too many times. Which is something she never did. In spite of heart disease and finally, the poison that took her from her loved ones...cancer. Yet through it all,she stayed in the game and on the mound.Even when the enemy started kicking her butt...she never, not once, turned tail and ran. We never saw her stare into the dugout for someone else to take the ball...she kept the eyes of her soul focused on the Makers Mitt. Instead she kicked some dirt around on the mound...spit into her glove...rubbed the ball with the residue of a life well lived...and struck out her disease. She flew Home with her head up...her love as wings...and the crowd cheering. And Joy Gail Franks Clearman is still the finest teammate I ever had or ever will. Every time I want to quit trying and hand someone else the ball...she looks down from Heavens dugout...and shouts in that unmistakable, commanding voice...get back on that mound Michael Edward...you will finish this game...you are a WINNER...and always will be!
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:34:51 +0000
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