Craig Groeschel, the Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv has been writing this week about the importance of saying thank-you to the people that have impacted and influenced your life. Over the next few days, I am going to highlight just a small sample of some of the people that I know and don’t know that have played a positive role in shaping the good of who I am.
Before I thank any pastors or legends or superstars, I want to take a moment to say thank you to a very special person that has "been there" for me for all 28 years of my life – my mother, Kay King.
Mom, as a single-mother I saw you work your tail off day in and day out to provide a good living for your sons. It wasn’t from Dr. King, Ghandi, or even from the Bible that I learned the value of treating all people with fairness and dignity, it was from watching you do this. You have worked at the Sylvania Lamp Plant for 35 years. Through your consistent and amazing work there, you built inside of me a strong work ethic and a heart for the hard-working people of our country.
Growing up, I had no idea of the major responsibility that was on your shoulders because you always went out of your way to take such good care of us. You kept us dressed well, always made provisions for our passions and hobbies, heck – you even watched WWF with me and watched me perform flying elbow drops and pile drivers on pillows so that I could show you how tough I was. Because of these things, I do the same things with my kids.
You have been there for me through three painful spinal surgeries, a life-altering car accident, and all of the ups and downs that come with being the mother of Shaun King. Just as I know that my wife will always be there for me, I know the same thing about you. This gives me a base of strength to work from that gives me great confidence in a shaky world.
Mom – thank you for these things and much, much more.