by mominflorida

Created on: February 15, 2009

A Mother's Gratitude

A distraught girl sat on the edge of the stands,

Sniffling and crying, with her head in her hands.

A woman put her hand softly on her head,

"What's wrong? How can I help? She quietly said.

The girl turned and gave the woman an embrace,

Tears of sadness, still flowing down her face,

She said "I don't know, I just wanted to win,

We practiced so hard, again and again."

"Every day you are here, rooting and hoping,

And every day I am here, complaining and moping."

"I thought, just this once, I could make you proud,

Make you glad that you stay, glad that you're around."

"We messed up again, and the fault is all mine,

I should have tried harder, now you've wasted your time."

The girl turned away from the woman once more,

Obviously, hurting, and tired, and sore.

The woman stood up and took her face in her hands,

"You listen to me,"

She said, pointing up in the stands.

"These people don't come here just to see you win more,

They come here to watch you compete and endure,

They come here to watch you smile and get excited,

And then if you win, of course, they're delighted.

But what's better for us, is at the end of the day,

We've created a warrior, who's ready to play,

Any sport, any game, or whatever life throws at her,

Just go ahead, it really doesn't matter,

She's ready you see,

She's had all the training,

Even through all the bruises and complaining,

She's made it through, and so have we,

There isn't anywhere else that we'd rather be."

A woman watching this touching scene,

Couldn't help from tearing up for the unhappy teen.

She said to the girl "You're very lucky, you know,

Not all of us have a mom that can show,

Unconditional love like that,

You'll never have to worry, she'll always have your back.

The girl and her comforter smiled at each other,

They let out a chuckle, "oh, she's not my mother.

She's my friend and my mentor,

My guiding light.

She's my coach, and you know what, I am lucky,

you're right.

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