Tears of joy have hit me at the most unexpected times, too. Last weekend I had one of those moments.
Our youngest son, a college senior, stood proudly in uniform and gave us a wink and a huge smile from the bull pen. I melted. Just seeing him there in uniform again, knowing what he'd been through and how much pleasure he was getting from just making the team roster, touched me so deeply.
Yesterday I had another one. Our oldest was asked to throw out the first pitch at his college’s Opening Day. His college years were filled with struggle and the moment meant the world to him … and to me.
Their struggles have been hard to watch at times. However, they've made them better men, deepened their sense of joy, and given me the most unexpected and precious memories. The obvious successes are fun, but the very best moments are the deeper, more subtle ones that most people don’t even notice. They’re the ones that always stick in a mother’s heart and bring on the alligator tears when remembered.