22 Comments
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Krista Watson's avatar

Happy Belated!

I love your stories. And I love your mother; her strength and wisdom are remarkable.

Also, the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

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Mike R Campbell's avatar

Thank you, Professor Glaude, for this post. The student has become the mentor for all the rest of us. Somewhere your friend, Al, is smiling.

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monks and mannequins's avatar

Such a lovely piece.

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Dedee Gingeras's avatar

You seem to meet each moment Your comment is wise and thoughtful. You encourage acceptance and empathy. Than k

you

God bless your most gracious mother

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Pass ThePizza's avatar

This is so beautiful. Thank you, professor. Like all great educators, you renew and strengthen my desire to read and learn more and more and more.

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Cheryl Townsend Gilkes's avatar

Thank you for this. I am so glad that we are descended from a resisting people who chose love over hate regardless. You and your mother remain in my prayers. AND I still miss Al Raboteau too!

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Kathy Heider's avatar

Happy Birthday Eddie! Sending prayers to your mother🙏 I have a dear friend going through the same thing and I’m taking care of her so I know what you’re going through, prayers to you 🙏

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Harlena J Dyer's avatar

Happy Belated Birthday Eddie.

Thank you for the lovely article. I hope and pray that your mother defeats the cancer.

I have found that our best teachers often stay with us and their words echo reminders when we need them the most.

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Heather Jennings's avatar

Happy Birthday Eddie!! Wishing you some joy and love as you go through this difficult time with your mother.🙏🏽🙏🏽 Sending continued prayers.🙏🏽

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Elsa Caroline's avatar

Thank you, Mr. Glaude, and Happy Birthday 🎉 From one Virgo to another, it does makes more sense now why your storytelling style appeals to me so very much. This one is particularly captivating and beautifully woven with your usual deftness. My soul prefers receiving the news with a large helping of wisdom and perspective these days that can only come from artfully crafted, honorable stories and histories. It's a comfort for the weary brain. Outrage and commentary can only communicate so much, or so well. In trying times, we need perspective and color and living knowledge infused with facts to illuminate and remind us that we're human beings who've been on a long march through time and space, and no matter what, there is great goodness - and good people - in every chaotic chapter. Virgos like making order out of chaos, much like composting transforms waste into gardening gold. Always a pleasure to read your stories from the heart 💙

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Nancie McDermott's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful, moving story of Professor Raboteau, your shared birthdays, what you learned from him, and the holy ordinary. This really touched my heart. Happy birthday to you, belatedly; you gave us this precious birthday gift!. I will look for his book, and for yours!

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Mary Roach's avatar

Happy B-Day! Your mother certainly is one of God’s angels. Her kindness is the magic of undying hope. She will pass test because she has a testimony!

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Scott Crawford's avatar

Happy Birthday. And many, many thanks.

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Isabelle Selikoff's avatar

Your Mom has it figured out. Share the little things that she has discovered with those you meet. When we meet human to human we bypass prejudice and politics. I’m always fascinated by your introspective comments here on Substack and on cable. I’m your 82 year old Jewish neighbor. Would like to hear you teach. Is that possible?

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Robin Butler's avatar

Beautiful and inspiring! Thank you

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Leigh Horne's avatar

What a lovely parable for our times. Thank you. In my prayer life these days, I often find one plea most prominent: Please let me not lose sight of the fact that people are sometimes kind for no reason (other than we share a brotherhood and sisterhood in the spirit). And sometimes, later in that same day a person will lift me up. Today it was the Walgreen's helper who gave me my 5th ever covid shot. Her humanity, her warmth, her caring for this the fourth old person she'd seen this hour was all there in her eyes and the gentleness with which she helped me overcome the dread that there's always a chance that, because of a mysterious blood disorder, I might become seriously ill after getting any new or modified vaccine. I did not know this young woman, and may never see her again nor that particular gleam in her eye that was nothing if not holy. I suspect it's all around us, if we'd but open our hearts just a little. So wonderful to be reminded of this.

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