Still Here

We had our struggles, I remember you literally "man-handling" me, in my teenage rage to keep me from running away. Then I remember you telling me you would spend every dime you had to find me if I ever left.


I stayed.

And the rage went away.

I remember you helping me pick up the pieces of my life, when all hell broke loose as a young man, you stepped in the gap when I needed it. When the tears flowed unendingly, you never left.

And the pain went away.

I remember you calling me when you were blind sided by the one you trusted more than life itself.

I stood in the gap, and though it cost all of us something that will never be replaced, we were strong. We wept in the darkness alone, as only men weep when they think they are alone. We held tight to our faith, that faith you passed to us.

And the loneliness went away.

I remember you standing so strong when you watched your own heritage fade, and you said goodbye to your history, and stepped up to be the next in line.

This time, the pain did not go away.

I am with you now, in your shoes as I help you through the hard days of today, and the harder ones before us.

I am not going away.

I stand with you, and when you can no longer stand, I will stand for you.

You taught me well, and I am not leaving.

I am still here.