Your Damned TV Screen

...this world's a lot damned bigger than a TV screen.

Atlanta, Georgia—once, I took my friend to the ER after he broke his ankle running a 5K. The young man in the hospital room beside us was suffering from a gunshot.

His mother sat with him. She was small, gray-headed. She did not cry, nor raise her voice. She whispered while nurses and police officers hurried around him.

He kept mumbling, “I’m sorry, Mama.”

She gave one long, “Ssssssshhhhhh,” then said, “You’re my baby boy.”

When they wheeled him to surgery, she lost it. Nurses could barely hold her up. I’ve never seen a woman scream like that.

Not ever.

Panama City, Florida—I saw a truck crash into a neighborhood telephone pole. It happened during broad daylight.

A police officer lived a few houses away from the accident. He heard the loud sound. There were sparks. Buzzing. The power went out.

The deputy tore out the front door, jogging barefoot. He pulled the dazed kid from the truck and held him. A crowd of neighbors gathered.

The deputy cradled the boy, saying, “It’s alright, son.”

Mobile, Alabama—I watched a toddler have a meltdown in the supermarket. He sat on the floor wailing. His mother tried to console him.

An elderly woman calmed the boy. She used a Snicker’s as her weapon of choice.

The mother said, “We adopted him a week ago. He’s our first, and I don’t think he likes us.” She started sobbing.

The older lady wrote her number on the back of a card and said, “I’ve raised two boys. You’re gonna be fine. Call me.”

I hope she did.

Pensacola, Florida—Boy Scouts held a car wash on the side of the road. My wife and I pulled over. She let them give our vehicle the once-over for fifteen bucks.

I asked why they were raising money.

“Because,” one boy said. “My mom has breast cancer. She’s not doing good.”

When they finished, my wife paid them for two more cleanings.

I left the tip.

Right now, I can’t sleep. I’m writing this because the world’s gone haywire. All you have to do is peek outside to see. Or flip on the television. Hate is for sale, and it’s flying off the shelves.

It’s too bad. Because this world’s a lot damned bigger than a TV screen. And since you’ve read this far, I’ve got something I want to say:

If you’re an off-duty deputy with a big heart, a mother who doesn’t know what she’s doing, an abandoned child, a newlywed, a dog lover, cat lover, a Boy Scout with a sick mother, a gray-haired mama with the strength of ten thousand angels.

Or a human being.

God bless you.

12 comments

  1. Renea - November 16, 2016 2:18 pm

    Keep on spreading the good. It wins in the end.

    Reply
  2. Reba - November 16, 2016 5:10 pm

    Gentle Strong love does not make it on the news. But it does make the world go round.

    Reply
  3. Maureen - November 16, 2016 9:13 pm

    and God Bless you right back…

    Reply
  4. Carol - November 17, 2016 7:07 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  5. jane - December 8, 2016 3:40 pm

    God bless you in this haywired world…sleep in peace.

    Reply
  6. Jerenell Gorbutt - December 8, 2016 4:03 pm

    All it takes is the size of a mustard seed..not much…all of us have that much in us if we can just take the time to find it… faith.. keep writing -you are doing good.

    Reply
  7. Sandra Marrar - February 13, 2017 2:32 pm

    God bless you, my friend!

    Reply
  8. Paula - February 13, 2017 2:43 pm

    Thank you for still seeing the good in this gone crazy world and bringing us back to what’s really important love you’re posts please keep them coming

    Reply
  9. Megan - February 13, 2017 3:34 pm

    Love catching your blog. I see that good, too. Small kindnesses really can make a difference.

    Reply
  10. Patricia - February 13, 2017 3:58 pm

    Your writing is a big breath of fresh air. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Eddie - February 13, 2017 5:58 pm

    Sean…I think Lewis Grizzard and Calvin Miller would approve your messages!

    Reply
  12. Ronda - February 14, 2017 5:45 pm

    Sean of the South you sure can make me cry. Thank you for seeing the beauty, the strength, the compassion and the Love in people. God Bless You.

    Reply

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