When you were 8 years old, your mom handed
you an
ice cream. You thanked her by yelling at her and
telling her
its the wrong
kind
When you were 9 years old, she paid for
piano
lessons. You thanked her by never even
bothering to practice.
When you were 10 years old she drove
you all
day,
from soccer to football to one birthday
party
after another. You thanked her by
jumping out of
the car and never looking back.
When you were 11 years old, she took you
and
your friends to the movies. You thanked
her by asking to sit in a different row.
When you were 12 years old, she warned
you not
to watch certain TV shows. You thanked
her by
waiting until she left the house.
When you were 13, she suggested a
haircut that
was becoming. You thanked her by telling
her she
had no taste.
When you were 14, she paid for a month
away at
summer camp. You thanked her by
not
writing a single letter.
When you were 15, she came home from
work,
looking for a hug. You thanked her by
having your
bedroom door locked.
When you were 16, she taught you how to
drive
her
car. You thanked her by taking it every
chance you
could.
When you were 17, she was expecting an
important call. You thanked her by being
on the
phone all night.
When you were 18, she cried at your high
school
graduation. You thanked her by staying
out
partying until dawn.
When you were 19, she paid for your
college
tuition, drove you to campus carried your
bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye
outside the
dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in
front of
your friends.
When you were 25, she helped to pay for
your
wedding, and she cried and told you how
deeply
she loved you. You thanked her by
moving halfway
across the country.
When you were 50, she fell and
needed you to
take care of her. You thanked her by
reading about
the burden parents become to their
children.
And then, one day, she quietly died. And
everything you never did came crashing
down like
thunder on YOUR HEART.
