April 25, 2006

Moms Cry

It's in the last paragraph of the article, on page A11, just above a story about the demise of a dairy farm and just below a photo of a weeping mother.

"And a mom, Lori Messner, waved good-bye to her son."

The author, Kristen Reed of the Orlando Sentinel, did an excellent job of describing courtroom emotions as judge Joseph G. Will sentenced four "dangerous men" to 22, 27, 35, and 35 years in prison. Four teenagers going into a concrete hell for beating a homeless man to death in Holly Hill last May.

I've watched the story unfold since the Sentinel ran security camera photos of the teens beating Michael Roberts, 53. They had to come back three times to get the job done. They bragged about it to friends and lied about it to authorities. They plea bargained as second-degree murderers, hoping not to get "life" sentences. They won. They lost.

I read the report yesterday and thought about the pain of Michael Roberts, "who was just drinking a beer and sleeping in the woods." I thought about the pain of four teenagers who will be nearly 30 before possible parole. About the pain of fathers, siblings, teachers, and friends. About the pain being felt by mom. About how the devil must be smiling.

At times like this dads sigh deeply and go change the oil in Charlie's car. Brothers and sisters cringe in private and talk big in public. Teachers teach on.

Moms cry.

For mom, a baby's first jerky arm motion is practice for a Presidential wave. When instead the hand pounds death into one of God's kids, mom cries the tears of a broken heart. The hot tears of unending love.

Moms are a lot like God.

He hears our first cries, listens to our consecration prayers, logs our broken promises, cheers over our victories, and cries over our failures. He stays, even when the staying is uncomfortable, painful, and humiliating. Even when there seems to be no hope. He stays, and cries the hot tears of unending love.

The prophet Jeremiah took notes one day when he heard God weeping over His kids.

"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love," God said. "With an unfailing love I have drawn you unto myself....Come back again...and I will turn our mourning into joy." Jeremiah 31:3,13, 21.

The Devil loses. God wins.

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission Development
Florida Hospital