This is the cross that my son got at a work camp about 15 months ago and that he is still wearing. It is huge, very conspicuous and bears a dead gang member’s name on it as a memorial and reminder to pray for homicide victims. It was made by a nun who was murdered by an ex-con how wanted her cell phone for drug money. After she died, they found an entry in her diary where she predicted her own death and forgave her brother for his act of violence against her – true story.
When my son went looking for a job this summer, he wore this cross. After a couple of “no thank yous” from perspective employers, I told him not to wear it when asking for a job. I thought maybe it sent a message that he was some kind of crusader or something. He took it off and boy, did his luck change. It got even worse.
Then, doesn’t someone call as we near the end of the summer and hire him to work at an ice cream stand. Why did they call him? You guessed it. They remembered his cross and thought he must be a nice kid and when someone quit, they wanted him.
So I am dead wrong again. I haven’t figured out if he realizes that I was wrong and just decided to be quiet about my error in judgment, or if he knows and is being a better person. (It is scary when you see that sometimes your kids are better people than you are. I said “sometimes.” The other times they are just the usual pain in the backsides, oh, I mean the clay I am molding with my loving hands. )
He averages about two comments a day about his cross. It is a real conversation piece. I didn’t even have as good luck when I was 20 and left a few buttons undone on my blouse. Maybe if I had worn a cross…
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“The only right is what is after my constitution; the only wrong is what is against it.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
8 responses so far ↓
1 Half-Past Kissin' Time // Aug 14, 2008 at 12:19 am
Hooray on the job thing! How’s your daughter’s tummy?
2 Mary // Aug 14, 2008 at 8:02 am
The tummy is better. After lots of crackers, ginger ale and Pepto, I think she is on the mend. I will be watching her like a hawk though as it seems like too long of a time for a tummy ache to me. (But I have been wrong before – see above.)
3 Elizabeth // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:02 am
How wonderful God is…I give your son big marks for wearing such a cross. It shows a great deal of dedication…great story, too.
Blessings, E
4 Maternal Mirth // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:29 am
Wow … the story behind the cross is heartbreaking. But then again so is THE story behind the cross.
The funny thing is … both stories have a happy ending.
I hope my subtlety comes across without explaination
5 Rebecca // Aug 15, 2008 at 8:57 am
Good for your son for sticking to his convictions.
6 Mary // Aug 15, 2008 at 10:02 am
MM- Of course it does. That’s why I love reading your writing. Amen.
7 Dee // Aug 21, 2008 at 9:15 am
My suggestion would be to simply buy a nice cross that is smaller and less conspicuous. That way people will not immediately think that’s the only interesting thing about him. He deserves attention for being a nice kid, not for being something like “the weird kid with the huge cross.”
8 Terie // Aug 29, 2008 at 6:10 am
This is too cool- great story, thanks for sharing.