It was so unexpected. Just a sheet of paper that was strewn amongst the other papers on the kitchen table. It read:
All About Colton by Colton Westra
I have experienced…
Close people dying in front of me.
I could feel the salty water leaping off my face.
Being as sad as the person right next to me.
Wishing they will come back.
I Imagine..
A cure for my mom.
So she can watch hockey games, screaming "Go Colton! Woo hoo!"
Saying hello when I get home.
That's why I imagine a cure for my mom.
I Know…
My family loves me even though they can be a little mean.
Like when I say can I have some money for food.
They always say yes.
I can feel my heart waiting to pop open with joy.
I Wonder…
What will happen to my family in the future?
Will they invent time travel or will they invent flying cars?
Will they donate money to charity?
Will they be the same or will they be BORING?
I Believe…
That a good family helps.
They will cheer you on at sport games.
They will also give you confidence and love even if you think you don't want it.
Best of all, they care for you no matter what.
I finish reading and feel my own "salty water leaping from my face." Oh my heart. This boy. His love. My momma heart surging out of my chest. Elated he claims joy. And saddened he knows such sorrow. He is 11 and has lived deep and loved wide. He so has his mother's heart.
And I wonder- where will HE be in the future?
Thank you Mrs. Herbranson. Christmas came a little early. Best. Gift. Ever.
Oh my goodness, this is amazing! Yes, an early Christmas gift for sure. I loved all the sweet parts, and laughed out loud at the prospect of you all being boring! ha! I'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about that.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! God bless Colton and his big heart :-)
This is so my Colton- better than I could have ever put into words :) Glad you enjoyed as much as I did!
DeleteDearest Vicky,
ReplyDeleteOh.my.goodness. Such sweet simplicity pouring from his heart. Only 11 and he has so much wisdom. He loves, loves, loves his dear Momma. Today I am praying and imagining, right along with your precious son, that there is a cure so you can watch hockey games and scream, "Go Colton, woo hoo!" and you can be there at home when he comes home from school.
What an amazing Christmas gift...a look inside Colton's heart!
As always, dear Vicky, I am keeping you and Colton in my prayers today!
Love and hugs from your friend,
Linda
Yes- LInda- that is it exactly "sweet simplicity." He really is a sponge and must be really listening to have picked up on some of the phrasing and words- I'm completely caught off guard- but so love it. Thank you for loving it - and him and I too :) Love to you dear friend!
DeleteThe inner thinking of a child can be mind-opening, honest and deeply touching.
ReplyDeleteI could not have said that better- thank you!
Deletesalty water leaking over here too! Wow - what a treasure you found!
ReplyDeletesuch a blessing when we see and feel our children's hearts, not just for us but for others.
love to you!!
xo
So perfectly stated Tiffany- thank you! Love to you!
DeleteIncredible insight for someone so young. But then, he has an incredible mother!!
ReplyDeleteRoxanne, so fun to see you pop up here! Thank you for your sweet words- I'm truly touched!
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteThank you Amanda :)
DeleteThe apple certainly did not roll far from the tree....
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen!
DeleteSo sweet! He loves you so much!
ReplyDeleteHe does- Genny- and I still get an eye-roll from him on occasion when I remind him- but mostly he indulges me :)
DeleteAhhhhhhh...so touching and sweet. For such a young man, he has insight unlike others. ♥
ReplyDeleteJan- the totality of what he has been through at a young age- clearly has left its mark on him. I had no idea just how much- but clearly he gets it and feels it.
Deletebest gift ever is right.....sniff sniff
ReplyDeleteI know- right? Lucky mom!
DeleteWhat a treasured gift your sweet gave not only you, but us...your prayer warriors!
ReplyDeleteI have a story my sweet daughter wrote the day of my mastectomy...it took many months before I could read it straight through without crying.
Oh, Vicky...heart hugs being sent your way!
Oh Kim- thank you for sharing that with me! I have no doubt, as sick as we can get, and as much as they see us go through, they are affected by it- in more ways than we could ever really know. Heart hugs right back to you!
DeleteHe has a command of what life is all about-joys and sorrows I just wish that our young children could be immune from the sorrow part. He has inherited your writing talent. Francis C. Moore
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Francis. Yes, its hard to see them have to deal with loss and sorrow and yet I am also hopeful that it helps them grow in appreciation of what they do have and how to truly enjoy and treasure today.
DeleteHe is wise beyond his years, Vicky....and a talented writer.
ReplyDeleteThe apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Beautiful blog.
Love you, my friend....
Jackie
I didn't realize that I said almost the same thing as Karen. :))
DeleteLooks like we are both "spot on." (I need to read comments BEFORE I comment instead of after....but so glad that we were both thinking the same thing. Those genes are strong....and I know that you are so proud of him.)
Jackie- I think it pays me a high compliment that you and Karen would both be thinking such wonderful thoughts! Thank you for your generous and thoughtful words- always. Love you right back friend! xxoo
DeleteAwwwh, what a great boy. You are so lucky Vicky.
ReplyDeleteI am Lisa- truly I feel so blessed!
DeleteI think Colton "got it from his mama" in the writing department. Such beautiful and mature words from a smart little boy!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet of you to say- plus as you well know- those 5th grade teachers at Reinertsen are pretty amazing in nurturing and teaching our kids! So great to see you here- hope you are well!
DeleteWhat a truly wonderful gift.
ReplyDeleteThe best gift, friend, the best!
DeleteI rarely get to blogging these days and I'm so glad I checked on you today. Beautiful, loving words. You've raised a wonderful young man.
ReplyDeleteMerry, merry Christmas to you and your family. Hugs, Marla
Marla! I often wonder how you are? I miss coming to your blog, but hope that it means you are living life to the fullest! Merry Christmas to you and yours and thank you for checking in!!
DeleteOh wow..from the get go till the end...I too had salty tears running down my face...what a wise young man. I wonder about your sons all the time...as I know they see reality right in front of them...what love and utter words of truth (I know were he got that from...Ms Vicky!!!) oh how your heart must lurch, wanting to protect them and at the same time wanting them to understand..and they do... salty tears still running down my face..a endless stream...for in that beautiful written note..I felt your 11 yr old Colton..and all his LOVE for you! continued prayers are with you all....picture the lords big arms around you all in a huge group hug! (now to read what others posted....I just wanted to write what I felt at the very moment I read....still salty tears.....)
ReplyDeleteDon't we as parents often wonder just how much our kids absorb at any given moment? They can nod and we think maybe they understand, or they can smile or roll their eyes and then we wonder. But to see the innermost workings of his young heart at work? That is priceless to me. We talked more about it yesterday and he clearly has a good grasp of these concepts. I'm beyond words… just truly touched. Thank you friend for seeing him along with me :)
DeleteBlessings Vicky, AMAZING! Wow..this shows me that he is being raised with great faith and love. You should be a proud momma, I am for you!!! God always knows what we need to get us through another day! HUGS
ReplyDeleteThank you Kay- He does give us just that doesn't he? We just have to be open and ready to receive it! Hugs to you friend!
DeletePure treasure: Colton ... and, of course that incredible note sharing his open, deep, nurtured heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie- yes- pure gift/treasure to me. That he would share that which is buried so deeply in his heart so openly, just amazes me.
DeleteThat is just AMAZING. What a talent your boy has. If he keeps expressing himself like this, he'll get far in life!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious, precious gift. It's amazing the things our kids can not only absorb but learn without our even knowing it.
ReplyDeleteHe wrote it so nicely and very mature for a little boy and yes my eyes would fill too if I read this from my son.
ReplyDeleteYou are a very loved Mom. And yes there has to be a cure. They spoke of one yesterday for lymphoma.
It was also an incurable one but there you go. The person got well and so will you.
I don't think you have a choice Vicky but to get well.
What a special gift! He has your talent for writing, Vicky. He expresses his feelings so well in words, just as you do. I see a future writer, if he so chooses. Thanks for sharing this, it has touched each one of us who has read it. xxoo
ReplyDeleteOh Vicky... I have salty tears as well. What a wonderful, loving boy you have...
ReplyDeleteVicky, I read this several days ago and commented and forgot to hit post so I'm back again to tell you how much this letter touched my heart and, like Colton, and you, and so many others here, I, too, had "salty water leaping off my face." That child. So deep, so like his mama, such an incredible writer for one so young but touched very much by life and its joys and its terribly hard places. This is a Christmas gift extraordinaire and I KNOW you're like me and could receive no gift you could love more.
ReplyDelete