Karen Kingsbury - Be Safe Little Boy: Words of Love for Moms

ZONDERVAN

BE SAFE LITTLE BOY

Copyright 2006 by Karen Kingsbury
All photos copyright 2006 by Zondervan

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ePub Edition July 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86573-5

ISBN-10: 0-310-81448-0

ISBN-13: 978-0-310-81448-1

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Contents

Dedicated to

Donald, my prince charming,
Kelsey, my precious daughter,
Tyler, my beautiful song,
Sean, my wonder boy,
Josh, my tender tough guy,
EJ, my chosen one,
Austin, my miracle child,

And to God Almighty, the author of life,
who hasfor nowblessed me with these.

O ne day a little boy was born into the world and for a very small moment, his mother held him close.

B ut soon they came to clean him up and right then the mother knew. Life with that little boy would always mean letting him go.

T ime passed and the little boy became a one-year-old. His mother knew something had changed because the little boy didnt want to be held anymore he wanted to walk. So she kissed him on top of his head, took a seat at the back of the room, and held her breath and crookedly, very crookedly, he took his first steps. From the place where she watched him, that mother hummed a quiet hum. And in her heart the words went something like this:

Be safe little boy,
Dont you fall little boy,
Look how fast youve grown.
Be safe little boy, where you walk little boy
Youre not yet on your own.

T he boy grew older and for his sixth birthday he got a shiny bike. His mother knew it was time to let go a little more. So she kissed him on the top of his helmet, stood back, and slowly, very slowly, he climbed onto the seat. From the place where she watched him start to ride, that mother whistled a quiet whistle. And in her heart, the words went something like this:

Be safe little boy,
Pedal hard little boy,
Look how much youve grown.
Be safe little boy, where you ride little boy,
Youre not yet on your own.

Y ears passed and the boy became a fourth grader. His mother knew it was time for him to walk to school each morning by himself. So on the first day, she kissed him goodbye, stood back, and quickly, very quickly, he ran to meet his friends. From the place where she watched him start out, that mother sang a quiet song. And in her heart, the words went something like this:

Be safe little boy,
Watch for cars little boy,
Look how much youve grown.
Be safe little boy, where you go little boy,
Youll soon be on your own.

M iddle school came and the boy became a football player. Football was rough and tough and sometimes boys got hurt, but his mother knew it was time to let him play. So she helped him with his shoulder pads, kissed him for good luck, stayed at the top of the bleachers, and wildly, very wildly, he tackled and ran and won that game. From the place where she watched him play, that mother thought a quiet thought. And in her heart, the words went something like this:

Be safe little boy,
Dont get hurt little boy,
Look how much youve grown.
Be safe little boy, where you play little boy,
Youre almost on your own.

M ore time passed and the boy learned to drive. Driving was scary for his mother, because sometimes she wouldnt know where he was or if he was okay. But his mother knew it was time to give him the keys. So she found him a car, kissed him on the cheek, stayed at the top of the driveway, and carefully, very carefully, he backed down the hill and drove out of sight. From the place where she watched him leave, that mother prayed a quiet prayer. And in her heart, the words went something like this: