Lean on Me

Friends and family day is a lovely tradition at my daughter's school. Every year, the day before thanksgiving, families and friends are invited to come to school with the kids, view their artwork, Spanish work, eat some food they've prepared, read some writing they've done, and join in a sing-along. I never get through the sing along without tears, and they really started rolling with this tune:

Sometimes in our lives

We all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's

Always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

Till I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

I love the whole song, but I reckon these next two verses are my fave, particularly in the Glee version:

Please swallow your pride

If I have things

You need to borrow

For no one can fill

Those of your needs

That you won't let show

You just call on me brother

When you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load

You have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me

I've been through a lot during my kids' tenure at that school, as have they, and I sure have appreciated those who have lightened my load and allowed me to lean on them. I also appreciate the nest it has been for my baby birds during some of the most vulnerable years I hope they'll ever experience (when their Dad and I were newly divorced).

When we were leaving school for the day, one of my daughter's classmates' Grandma's asked if I was indeed her mother. I told her that I was, and then she gave me a wonderful compliment: "Oh!" she said, "I just really love who she is in the world." Me too!