The M&M Story

Brian was asked to speak at Westminster's graduation. Here's the hard copy: I’d like to thank you, graduates, Mr. Marsh, for the honor of standing here this evening. It means a lot to me to be able to stand here, and as I reflect back on my six years here at Westminster—the same number of years as most of you—I see a history of love and respect and joy and graciousness that only comes from God. And I thank you for being his liaisons to me and to Susan…and to baby Max. I played junior high basketball in a very small school in a very small town in Alabama—We were the Warrior Academy Braves, and we ….stunk.---now this was a team where our best defensive move was making armpit noises during fast breaks to try to distract the opposing team…We wore the jerseys left over from the Varsity –they were so baggy on us that when you subbed in you and to pull your shirt up out of your shorts so that the officials could read the number. And yet we had this kid Pete, who was just astounding...

Recently, M. and I were at Westminster picking up some things. We parked in back, and as we walked by a handicap parking sign, he said, "Mommy, remember when Daddy had one of those?" It took me a second, but realized he was talking about the wheelchair in the handicap symbol. I responded, "Yes, baby, I remember. Do you remember when Uncle Andy pushed Daddy in the wheelchair when we went on that long prayer walk with all our friends?" He nodded as though he remembered but quickly got distracted by a worm. I thought that was it, but a minute later as we climbed the back steps of WCA, he asked, "Mommy, did Daddy die in a hospital?" I choked back the lump in my throat and said, "Yes, actually in an emergency room," which he's been in before for stitches and nursemaid's elbow. "So, he died in an 'mergency room?" I could hear the wheels spinning like mad. "Yes, M, and then he went to heaven to be with Jesus." ...