Fly a little longer

The kids always have some "new thing" that they must have because everyone does. I am a single mom so I do my best to avoid the more expensive and money sink type ones if I can. I am doing okay though so I do give in from time to time. I find it especially easy to give in when it is a long term thing that my son would need a cheaper version of anyway. You know what I mean. A great example is a backpack that will last all year or a pair of shoes that will hopefully make it through the semester. Plus I find he takes better care of things he wants than the stuff I pick for him.

It was shoes that had me at the department store that day. I am a sale shopper and a couponer so I did a tiny cringe at the price and grabbed his pair hoping they would maybe make it through the year and not just the semester. At least they weren't too crazy looking and didn't seem to have any "features" that would mess with his posture or anything.

I happened to stop at another display outside the shoe area when I overheard the conversation that would change my life forever. I had seen a little boy from my son's school in the department with his mom and recognized his voice right away. He was a pleasant and polite kid. I overheard him speaking with his mom.

The conversation went something like this:

Mom: Now please listen sweety I cannot afford another pair of these for a long long time. I really had to save up all year to get you something nice for this birthday.

(I already had a little lump in my throat. I was doing a little better now but the pain of that situation was still much much too fresh.)

Boy: I know mom. These are amazing but I always take good care of my shoes.

Mom: Oh sweetie I don't mean just cleaning them and that conditioner stuff you use, If you run as much in these as you always do you will wear them out quickly.

(The mom must have been tearing up at this point, and I felt her pain. Who wants to tell their young boy not to run so much because they can't afford more shoes???)

Boy: Oh mom please don't cry! I love them so much! I don't have to fly forever, but now I get to fly for a little while!

Mom: (laughs and sounds puzzled) Fly sweetie?

Boy: Yeah mom I run because it feels like flying.


The simplest conversation in the world. A little boy who daydreams that when he runs he is flying. The simple pleasure a child takes in life from something free and easy. Maybe in text it doesn't sound so profound. But I was broken up something fierce. I put down the handbag I was considering. I left the store with an uplifted heart and a plan.

I watched that boy in the schoolyard carefully wiping his shoes after recess. Always coming in the next day with them really cleaned, laces off the ground. I consider my own son to be conscientious and respectful of property but I had to replace his well before this little boys shoes started to show wear.

Then finally I started to see the wear. I know little boys grow fast and wasn't sure what size he would now be even though I had snuck a peek at his shoe size when the school had a moon bounce. Teaching at the school had its advantages. He gave me the perfect opportunity to see his shoe size. I saw him sit on a bench and carefully untie his shoe to take it off. He started shaking it like a rock had gotten in it. I quickly crossed to the bench where he was.

"Hey Garret! You alright?" I said

"Yes Ma'am" He said with a huge smile. "I just had something in my shoe"

"Whoops! Did you get it out? Don't want anything hurting those super fast feet! Gonna be an Olympic track runner one day!" (I reached down to touch his feet casually) "Just remember don't forget your old teacher"

I didn't think his face could get any brighter but it did and he ran off yelling "I won't!" with a spring in his step.

I knew where he lived so the rest was simple.

The next morning when he woke up he found a pair of shoes carefully wrapped and tied with brown paper and twine that I knew he would carefully unwrap. He was certainly that kind of boy. The card simply said, "Fly a little longer"

I was so excited to see him in school that Monday wearing his new shoes. I was puzzled to bits when he was still wearing the old ones. Of course I couldn't ask about them! I remained puzzled for a whole month until he finally wore the new pair.

I had to comment.

"Whoa! Someone got new shoes!" I said to him while he was lacing them snugly on the playgroung getting ready to run the track around the school.

"Yes ma'am! I had them for awhile they were a gift from heaven"

(I couldn't help but grin so huge)

"Wow that is so awesome!" I said. "When did you get them? Yesterday?"

"No ma'am I got them about a month ago, but my old ones were still okay to use. The card told me to fly a little longer and now I got to fly an extra month."

"Fly?" I said. Even though I knew what he meant. Well I thought I knew.

He started like I expected.

"When I run it is like flying. Free and fast."

But then he smiled the most peaceful angelic smile I have ever seen and there was a wisdom in his eyes of a man who has lived an entire lifetime. He continued-

"When I run I feel close to God, and if I am close to God I am close to heaven. Heaven is where my daddy is so I am close to him. Because heaven is a place we feel, not a place we go, I think."

I choked back the tears with a huge smile and tell him

"I think you are absolutely right"

He bounds off ready to run... ready to fly with his dad.

No words can describe the change he made in me. But now I live my life flying.