Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Black Sheep of the Family (10/03/13)
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TITLE: Don't Drive Your Mama Away | Previous Challenge Entry
By Barbara Caldwell
10/09/13 -
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One of my favorite gospel singers is Shirley Ceasar. She often tells stories before singing a song. She always has a powerful meaning, as well as a powerful ending. One of her songs is titled “Don’t Drive Your Mama Away.” This is a description of that story.
There was a mother who had two sons. One of the sons promised his mother that he would go to college. He was determined to make something of his life, and take of his mother. The other son was the black sheep of the family. He stayed in trouble all the time. His mother always had to go to court to get him out of trouble. After the boys grew up, one went to college, and the other left home.
The mother worked hard. She did domestic work in order to send her son to college. She struggled to make ends meet. On her knees she scrubbed floors, she also washed and ironed clothes, to make her son’s dream possible. She thoroughly desired her son to have a better life than she had.
Eight years passed by and her son graduated from college. He came and announced to his mother that he was now a medical doctor. He also introduced his new wife who was a teacher. They invited his mother to come and live with them.
The mother did move with her son and his wife. She resided with them long enough to help raise their children. After the children grew up, the wife felt that her mother-in-law was getting in the way. She complained that her mother-in-law was using bad English in front of the children. She felt that the children would be affected.
The son confronted his mother and said, “My wife seems to think that you are getting in the way. You are using bad English in front of the children. We don’t have any thing else for you to do.
I must put you in an old folk’s home.” The son didn’t even use the words nursing home.
The mother went back to her room with tears running down her face. Satan began to taunt her by whispering in her ear, “Look at all you’ve done for that boy, and now he’s getting ready to throw you outdoors.” The mother began packing her clothes, but she continued to cry.
Early the next morning, the son announced, “The limousine is waiting outside.” The mother picked up her belongings and headed for the limo. Shortly after leaving the house, the son tried to make the situation appear in a positive light, he said “Mama, in your room out there , you will have a color TV. You’ll have nurses around the clock; you’ll have everything you need. I’m sorry but I have to take you to the old folk’s home.”
The mother turned to her son and said, “Son, I could see if I was sick, and couldn’t take care myself, but there is nothing wrong with me.”
Her son said, “I know, but I still have to take you.” Do you understand me and my wife?”
After several minutes the mother noticed another car approaching. She suddenly said, “Stop, I believe I see your brother.”
It was her other son; he stopped his car and approached the limo. He greeted his mother with a kiss. “How are you? I was on my way to see you. I came to let you know that I don’t do the things I used to do. I stopped by a church one night and received the Holy Ghost”
The troubled son asked his brother where he was taking his mother. The other son explained how the mother was getting in the way, and the decision he made concerning her. He also made comments of the past to make his brother look bad.
The long lost son said, “Mama, I don’t live in a fine home, but I’ve got one good room. You can have my bed. I eat beans, greens, potatoes and tomatoes. You don’t have to go to the nursing home. I don’t own a limousine, but I have a good seat in my car, you can seat right by me. Come home with me Mama.”
The mother retrieved her belongings and joined her son. This story illustrates the fact that the black sheep is not always the worst. In the future they can become the best.
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Nicely done.
God bless~