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One of the Greatest Gifts I've Ever Been Given

When I was a little boy (I couldn’t have been more than 6 or 7), my mother and I were riding in the car one day and she looked over at this car that was passing by and her eyes lit up. In my little boy voice, I said, "what mamma?" She said, "you see that car right there, that’s beautiful." I said to her, "when I get big I'm going to buy you that car." She looked at me and said, "OK baby," and smiled. I don’t know if she believed me, but she sure made me feel like I would one day.

When I was growing up, there were so many times when she was sad because of our home situation or her illnesses. She had survived breast cancer and came through some unimaginable things in her life. As a child, I felt this huge responsibility to try and make her feel better.  I can remember being very young sitting with her on the sofa trying to comfort her. I would say, "when I get big, I'm going to be able to take care of you and you won't have to worry about anything."  She would say, "OK baby," then I would go to my room and pray. I remember this like it was yesterday. I would pray, "God, please bless me enough to be able to take care of my mother."  That’s all I wanted! My hope was just to do well enough to take care of her, that’s it. Now look at what the LORD has done….Jesus!

I remember the day I told her to retire, she was so worried. I told her it would be ok.  I had just started to do well and to tell you the truth, I was worried too. What if this play thing didn’t work out. :-) But I believed God had answered my prayer, so I looked at her straight in the eyes and I said, "I made you a promise when I was a little boy, and I will take care of you." We both sat there in tears for a while…..that was a sweet moment!

I said all of that to say, one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given came from YOU!  God used you to bless me, so that the last 12 years of my mothers life, even with all her health issues, she never had to worry about a roof over her head, bills or how she would afford her medications or doctor visits. Because of you, the man I am now was able to keep his little boy promise. You have no idea how thankful I am for all of you who have stood with me over the years.

So, from my heart to yours, and on behalf of my dearly departed mother, may I just say, "thank you." You allowed me to be able to take care of my mother and that is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Big tears here….THANK YOU!

by Tyler Perry on December 24, 2011.