When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to attend a Christian¹ contemporary concert with the youth group from our church. To my amazement², Aaron invited me to go along; he knew I enjoyed the music of one of the performers. I readily accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, I had questions about going. My youngest son, who has Down syndrome³ and progressive heart disease, had been ill, and I was concerned about him. My husband encouraged me to attend the concert, assuring me he was quite capable of taking care of our youngest. I wavered.

Finally, it hit me. Aaron was sixteen years old. How many opportunities would I have to do something fun with him before he went away to college? And how many youth actually invited their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly geared for teens? The decision was made. I would not miss this opportunity.

At the concert, I sat with Aaron and his girlfriend in the third row, stuffing cotton in my ears to block out the loud, ear-splitting amplified⁴ music of the first performer. I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they clapped, and never let anyone know how nervous I was to feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet. Aaron and his friends were amused at my enthusiasm.

By the time we left the concert, I was certain my hearing was damaged forever. My ears were ringing and sounds seemed muffled⁵, but it quickly passed. So did my son’s teenage years. In no time he was in college and away from home. I missed him more than I could say. On days when I was especially lonely for his ready smile and his teasing manner, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again that I didn’t pass up an opportunity to spend time with my son.

Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but we are still very close. Some days he calls just to chat and tell me about his day. I drop everything and enjoy the moment, knowing these times too shall pass.

We sometimes reminisce on that concert of years ago when my teenage son and I made a lifetime memory. Aaron always laughs about the fact that his mom was the “only” person in the whole youth group to get an autograph from the performer.