I Wonder If His Mama Still Wonders About Him
You see all kinds of people at the beach.
Families hauling coolers and umbrellas and babies. Teenagers tossing footballs. Retirees slowly walking at the edge of the water.
All kinds of humanity. Every age. Every energy level.
But one person I don’t normally see. And now I have.
He’s a man, maybe in his early thirties, strolling along with a guitar.
Not performing. Not singing. Just strumming. Sort of.
I’m not sure he knows how to play. He brushes the strings with confidence for a few moments, but the sounds aren’t quite harmonious.
Then he stops and stares at the water for a minute. Sometimes he steps toward the waves, then back away again, as if he’s negotiating with them.
I saw him again the next day.
Same clothes. Same wandering. Same guitar.
At one point I watched him point toward the ocean, almost like he was daring the waves to come closer. Then he lifted his hand as if to say, “Here and no farther.”
I don’t know his story. I don’t know whether he has people who check on him or wait for him to come home at night or worry when he doesn’t.
But I do know this: at one point, he had a mama.
Someone once carried him, fed him, watched him sleep, wondered who he would become.
And if she’s still alive—whether she’s still in his life or not—I imagine she still wonders sometimes where her boy is and how he’s doing.
Watching him on the beach, I’m wondering too.
And also aching in my heart, not only for him, but also for her.
I hope they’re both okay.
Have you ever seen a stranger and wondered about the people who love them?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
This story brought tears to my eyes as I read, Lisa. Yes, I’ve seen people like this, too, and wondered the same thing as you have in this instance. May God bless him and keep him as he wanders through life.
I’m grateful for tender hearts like yours, Martha. There are so many people around us who wander. Each has a story. Each matters.
I hope this young man has someone who wonders about him and is anxiously awaiting to hear from him or see him again. That’s the way we pray life goes for everyone but the sad reality is not everyone has a mother, parents or family that cares. Many people do not value human life not even their own people.
Let’s pray there is more than one person that cares about this young man and he will be able to have a sweet reunion with those he loves and those that love him.
God loves him and will watch over him and I will pray this young picker will be able to feel loved.
We are hoping the same for this young man, Angela. It’s sad that not everyone has had good mothers. We were so blessed to have two of the best.
Lisa, what a powerful post–the images and the words. Praying for this young man and his mama. Many blessings to you.
Thanks, Beth. ❤️
At least he has a beautiful place to hang out.
For sure! We saw him every morning and every afternoon walking the beach. I imagine he appreciated the beauty of it.
I’d like to think he’s communing with God has he wanders the beach, praying as he stares at the water, lifting his hand to God in praise, playing tag with the waves God made. There are those who march to a different drummer (stroll to a different strumming?), yet know God intimately. I pray he is one of them, that his mother takes joy in her boy’s happiness, though it looks different than that of others.
We do all look a little different, yes? I’m grateful this man seemed content. While I wouldn’t want to trade places with him, I could stand to do with a little less things in my own life too.
Agreed!
A very poignant post Lisa, hopefully he has his people who care for him behind the scenes. Sadly many don’t & wander the landscape looking for someone to care.
May he find those who will show true love & care for him.
Yes, I agree with you, Jennifer. I hope this man does have people in spaces that are watching over him. I’m sure there are people out there who do care. I hope he has those connections.
This touched me, Lisa.
It made me think of the mothers who still wonder, still pray, still hope — even when they no longer know where their child is or what happened along the way.
There is so much tenderness in noticing a stranger and remembering that he was once someone’s little boy.
And there are so many mothers out there who do this, right? They don’t forget their children, regardless of the circumstances. Once in our heart, they’re always there. Thanks for your compassion, Aritha.
I often like to watch strangers when I’m out and about and speculate about their lives. We always like to hope that someone is keeping an eye on those who might need it.
My husband and I love to watch strangers too. We often come up with quite elaborate storylines as we imagine what their lives are like. 🙂
I have this very thought when I see a homeless person. At what point in their life did they lose the comfort of a home, or did they ever have one? Surely as a baby? It makes me wonder. They were someone’s child at some point. Maybe still.
Exactly. We think alike, Gina. I like to imagine that someone was so excited to hold them as a baby and watch them take first steps, etc. And hopefully someone is still excited to see this man each day. That’s my wish for him.
I will watch and wonder what is their story? Something draws us to them – and fills our hearts and mind with compassion more than curiosity. Sometime even settings are like that – what would it be like to live at this place I am visiting or passing through all the time. What if time stopped and I was stuck in this moment with these people for the rest of my live. Often lessons to be learned or invited into come from our wonderings….
I have these kind of thoughts when I’m on an airplane. I look around at the other passengers and wonder how we would interact with each other if there was a problem on the flight. Who would step up as a leader? Who would be kind? Who would be motherly?
And when we’re driving through another city I wonder if I would be satisfied if this were my home? We each have had so many options in our lives, so many roads not taken. Yet the roads we have taken have led us here to this moment and these spaces. Yes, so many wonderings about our wanderings!
This is so thought inducing. Food for thought here.
I appreciate you sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends dear friend.