doubting a belief

I generally don't believe in the kindness of man....been hurt too much by strangers, friends, lovers, etc in the past to cure me of my doubt.

But today, I was told about an act of kindness that makes me want to at least throw out this thanks into the great void,and who knows...it might hit home like the classic message in a bottle.

My son participated in a memorial walk/run this morning at his school. He wanted to walk the three mile course, but was told that the course was for runners only - if he was going to walk, he needed to follow the one mile course.

A little background - my son isn't very athletic and while he has enjoyed playing some sports, his dyspraxia, I believe, has held him back from achieving athletic progress. Running, espescially, has always looked to me to be labored at best.

A few weeks back, he joined some of his schoolmates in training for this memorial walk/run. Not being much of a runner, he found it very difficult but his buddies egged, cajoled, and good naturely bullied/pushed him into completing those training runs.

This morning, he showed up to the race and wanted to join his buddies on the three mile track - but he wanted to walk it. Since he was told only running was allowed, he agreed to run it.

He told me it was tough on him, that he was dead last bringing up the rear the whole time. But, he said what really helped him complete the run, was that one of the football players ran the race with him.

Coaching him the whole time...pushing him to small landmarks in the short distance, slowing the pace and then revving it up in intervals...so that before he knew it...he had completed three miles!!

My god, he was so thrilled he completed the three miles...so proud of himself! He so couldn't wait to tell me about the run that he texted me from his Mom's phone while I was in my car driving to pick him up for the weekend.

When he told me the story of his run, I asked him who the football player was that helped him through the race. That's the part that surprised me, because my son said that he had no idea who he was. He had never met him before...that all he knew was that he was on the football team.

So...whoever you are young man...thank you for making my son's day...thank you for helping him achieve this goal...and thank you for making his old man doubt his belief once again.

I am in your debt.