MY Son

What an emotional whirlwind these past two days have been with the recent SENSELESS killings of yet two more Black men. As a mother of an 18 year old Black male I don't know what to feel, and then again, I seem to be feeling EVERYTHING.

What I do know is that I LOVE MY SON and want him to have the BEST that life has to offer. I want him to have an EQUAL opportunity to HAVE and DO things that "other" males his age have to opportunity to HAVE and DO.

As I was scrolling through Facebook this evening I came across an INCREDIBLY moving post from a friend who wanted to "tell her son's story" in its truth so that the media wouldn't have an opportunity to twist it in the event that any harm ever befalls him.

As a result, I too have been compelled to tell MY son's story.

Even BEFORE he was born, my son was special.

Four months into my pregnancy a series of tests were run and it was determined that he would be born with some "issues." After being told the news, I asked my doctor what could be done. His response was, "Nothing." He then gave me the option to terminate my pregnancy as the only "option." Well...THAT wasn't an option. PRAYER was. And for the remainder of my pregnancy I prayed for my baby boy, and prayed for God to give ME whatever I would need in order to care for a child with the "issues" my baby was going to have (according to the doctor.)

Five months later, I gave birth to a blessed baby boy who was just as healthy as his two sisters who came before him. He was born without a SINGLE issue that the prenatal tests "predicted" he'd have. That alone was enough to prove how GREAT this baby boy would grow to become.

So, where do I begin?

He is a voracious reader...always has been. As a result, he has become an EXCELLENT writer.
He is an AMAZING artist. I mean really...you should see some of the stuff he's drawn.
He is kind, intelligent, and doesn't fit into any anyone's "box." That's just one of the many things I love about him.
He is a law-abiding citizen and has NEVER been in any criminal trouble...EVER.
He is an INCREDIBLY TALENTED robotics engineer who loves building "gizmos and gadgets."
He is an OUTSTANDING orator.
Most importantly, He loves the Lord, attends church regularly, and knows God's Word.
He's simply an all-around "cool dude." And I don't just say this because I am his mother. I say this because it's who he is. Anyone who knows him will tell you the same, and would surely ADD to this list.

There is no alternative narrative. This is Terence's story...

I purposefully ended with the ellipses because he's got a whole lotta living to do, so his story still has more to be added...much much MORE.

My prayer is that no one EVER has to read this in order to find out who he "was", because I don't ever want him to be a "was."

I have written this because I want the world to know who he "IS."