Dear Family and Friends,
I have to tell you why it is all worth it. Why The Run The Race Club is worth
your time, support, prayers.
I just want to tell you about 2 of the 60 children in Run The Race. One is CJ,
5th grade, new to us. The first time he came to RTR he told me that his father
was a police officer and got killed by a criminal. I told him he could be
proud of his father; his father is a hero. When I met/talked to his mom, I
told her I was sorry to hear about CJ's dad. "What did he tell you?" she
asked, and I told her. She said, "Is that what he said? CJ has never met his
father. CJ's father isn't in his life. He never was a police officer. He's not
dead. I guess it just seems that way to CJ." She talked flat, without any
emotion. This mother has 3 other boys and 2 girls. I heard CJ tell one of our
volunteers last week that he had a big birthday party with "95 people!" when
in fact he had no party at all...
The other little boy is Michael. He is also in the 5th grade. His father has
nine children with four women, none of whom he supports. He lives in Kentucky.
Michael lives with his mom, her boyfriend, a brother and sister. Mom and
boyfriend deal and use drugs: weed and crack. Children's Services have been
called to the squalor they live in many times to no avail. (That's a whole
different e-mail!).
We had RTR Thursday for the 5th grade and older children. Michael, who is
extremely shy and by himself at RTR, brought his report card to show me. He
hadn't opened it yet or showed it to his mother either. Michael asked if I
would take him home that evening and drop him off last. I said yes and we
would look at his report card together then.
CJ, on the other hand, was at RTR, too. He was on fire with energy - fun,
funny, all-boy type boy who really is a pleasure to have around. He told me he
is so glad that James invited him to RTR. Later I heard him tell another boy,
"My mom is so happy when I bring food home from RTR." I pretended not to hear
but it made me realize: 1. how hungry they are all the time; 2. how some
inner city adults just won't ask for help but need it; 3. how much the
children love their moms (unfortunately, dads are few and far between...)
Well, sometimes after I drop off my vanload of children, when I have two or
three left, different ones each time, I stop at a corner store for them to
pick out candy or something. I did that last night with CJ and Michael. I told
them they could pick out 2 things. One got a bag of candy and a bag of chips,
the other chips and dip. We went to the cashier and on the counter was a vase
filled with fake red roses. One boy noticed and said, "What are those?" I said
they were for Valentine's Day.
He picked one up and the rose opens to reveal little earrings. Each
rose/earring set was $3.00. When he opened it up they both said, "OHHHH" and
almost in unison said, "I want to get that for my mom!" Then they each grabbed
one of the treats they had picked out and put them back. Their 2 things they
were able to get now were one for them; one for their moms...The love God puts
in the hearts of children for their mothers...So beautiful.
When I dropped CJ off his mom and "her new husband" as CJ says, were coming
out of the house. CJ's arms were full with food and his gift but mom just
waved at him and walked right past him. CJ went inside. Mom didn't come to my
car - she left.
I still had Michael in the car who was anxious for me to look at his report
card. I tried to do that while driving and maneuvering around the thick ice
still on Columbus inner city streets and alleys. I asked Michael to read it to
me but he couldn't do that very well...I looked at his reading grade: first
grade level, the teacher said. His grades were all below average but Michael
thought that "2" was a good grade. His behavior grades were excellent - he's
so shy in groups. Michael asked me to call his mom because he wasn't sure if I
was supposed to take him home or to "Uncle Archie's" (?). I called. What
Michael really wanted was for me to tell his mom about his report card,
because, he said, "She doesn't really look at it when I bring it home. Tell
her what I got in art; tell her what I got in math" I told her that Michael
was very excited to show her his report card. She said, "Yeah. Bring him to
Archie's. I'm at Archie's." So I dropped Michael off with his bag of food,
report card, red rose, sadness on his face but a
heart filled with love
for his mother, who probably wouldn't notice any of it.
Before going up the steps Michael turned around and said, "Can you come for me
tomorrow?" "Honey, we don't have Run The Race tomorrow," I said. "I know. Can
you come for me anyways?"
Love, prayers and gratitude for all you have done,
Rachel