Just Words

We’ve had more children come through our doors than we can count. We don’t have the biggest house or the fanciest house. It’s not in a gated community and she’s not multilevel. We never put in that swimming pool and she’s always under some kind of remodel or upgrade.

The children of the neighborhood and the friends of our children have always been able to come and go freely and there’s always cold water and drinks in the fridge. And like we tell them all the time… we eat almost every day around here, so be sure and stop by. We would always cook for six, but never really knew if we were going to have an extra mouth to feed. Someone would stop by or one of the kids would have a friend with them. We loved them with food… and we love to cook.

There is one young man that grew up with my son… he’s a tall and well mannered boy who seems to know everyone in town. He is easy to have a conversation with and has an opinion on just about everything. But he never eats anything we prepare. He will show up unannounced and plop down on the couch just to visit and soon he will be on his way. He would show up even when my son wasn’t home, and we always welcomed him. Through our conversations I found out that his parents don't tell him they love him and he never says the words to them either... he assumes they don't need to because they know how each other feels. And besides, he told me, they’re just words…

They’re just words…

When his visit is over and after he has refused anything to eat, I always pat him like he’s my boy and tell him I love him. We laugh about it and he always pauses and nods his head with acknowledgement.

My son has moved out but we still see his friends. Some may come by for the laughter. Some may come by for advice… some may come by for a good meal. And some may come by for just the words…

                                                                   Shannon R Killman