Yesterday I wrote a piece on the importance of motherhood entitled "The Heart That Rocks the Cradle". The words I wrote were based on a sermon series at my home church entitled "At the Movies... Where TRUTH hits the silver screen".
The movie that our pastor based his sermon on was the 2009 blockbuster hit "The Blind Side", starring Sandra Bullock. Yesterday I wrote theses words about the movie:
The Blind Side is more about personal struggle and challenge and less about touchdowns and tackles. It is also a story about one that has nothing and those who seemingly
have everything. Finally, it is about the power to overcome and the
courage of one to care for another beyond mere words. In the end it was
mother of two who decided to become the mother of three.
The Blind Side trailer...
As I reviewed those words yesterday I realized I was introduced to the Columbus version of this story when I heard of the Ciminello family last year. Like the Tuhoy family in the movie The Blind Side the Ciminello family decided many years ago to reach out and help a young child in need. Below is the piece I wrote last April about this story that touched me deeply.
A little side note... the young man in the story, Kym Littlefield, is a freshman at Denison University along with my 19 year old son Austin... funny how things work out. sbb.242
Kym Littlefield
Columbus Academy 2010 Valedictorian
Family Stone
Family: a basic social unit
consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether
dwelling together or not: (the traditional
family); a social unit consisting of
one or more adults together with the children they care for: (a single-parent family).
During the 1993 awards show (the ESPYs) legendary basketball coach, Jim Valvano, was given the Arthur Ashe award for courage.
He was stricken with cancer, and the toll on his appearance was evident
as he addressed the Madison Square Garden crowd. He was helped to and
from the stage by Dick Vitale and Duke mens basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski. In his speech, which was both emotional
and humorous, he offered these words to live by:
"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number
two, is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three, you
should have your emotions move you to tears- it could be happiness or
joy. Think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry- that's a full
day. That's a heck of a day."
Laugh. Think. Cry.
Jim Valvano
With "5" boys (two younger than 5) and a five month old girl, I can honestly say I cry and laugh every day. Obviously I don't think
very much because any person in their right mind would never consider
having "6" children. Usually this is where the crying starts; that and
when I see college tuition rising like the national debt. Thankfully my
oldest son, Logan (19), who is a sophomore at the University of
Cincinnati, is extremely insightful; he often tells me, "it's just money
Dad". Thank you Logan, I feel so much better.
Pause. Reflect. Question.
What is he learning in college and why are we sending him there?
What is he learning in college and why are we sending him there?
Last Saturday, after my daily dose of laughing and thinking, I came across an article in "The Columbus Academy Magazine". The title of the piece was "Redefining Family" by Bob Lee and the main focus was a young man named Kym Littlefield.
Front cover: Academy/spring 2010
(clockwise from bottom)
Kym Littlefield '10, Anthony Ciminello '10, & Natalia Ciminello '06
This is where the real crying begins.
While
reading the article I learned Littlefield, now a senior at Columbus
Academy, lost his mother when she passed away less than a month before
his 13th birthday. Rosalind Cooley, who supported her family by getting
up at 5 a.m. every day and worked two jobs, died the day after her 44th
birthday, she died of heart failure. To make things worse Kym's older
brother, Orlando, died of a heart attack the day after Kym's 13th
birthday.
Already
without a father (Kym had never met his father), Kym lost his mother
and brother in less than thirty days. He was only 13.
Mom (Rosalind Cooley) & her youngest son, Kym
After
the news, Anthony Ciminello, one of Kym's closest friends since
elementary school called day after day to see how he was doing. Anthony
and his sister, Natalia, ask their parents if there was any thing they
could do to help? The Ciminello family dove in, and what began as rides to school eventually lead to Kym living with the Ciminello's.
Anthony Ciminello
At thirteen the Ciminello house became Kym Littlefield's home.
I've
only met Kym once in passing at Academy and I'm sure he has no idea who
I am. I've never had the good fortune of meeting the Ciminello family,
but after reading the article I feel as if I've known them for a
lifetime. Lee's article convinced me that I will never be able to look
at Kym the same way or watch one of my favorite movies, "Finding Forrester",
without thinking of Kym. There is such a strong physical resemblance
between Kym and the main character Jamal Wallace, played by Rob Brown, and undeniable similarities concerning their life stories.
Kym Littlefield delivers a speech & Rob Brown as Jamal Wallace in Finding Forrester.
I
would encourage everyone to watch the movie with their family regardless of how your define your family.
Good acting; great message.
Good acting; great message.
The
one thing that can be said about the Ciminello family and their
generosity is that they were not acting, but that it was an
incredible story and an inspirational message. The gift that the Ciminello's gave Kym was
greater than anything money could buy. They gave of themselves, their
time, and most importantly they gave Kym a tremendous example of what
true unconditional commitment and what a selfless spirit looks like. Michele and Joe Ciminello also gave a wonderful gift to their children: others always come before self.
Proverbs 11:25 states; "The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
CA Basketball Senior Night
(L-R) Michele, Anthony, Arthur Cooley (Kym's grandfather),
Natalia & Joe Ciminello
Thank
you, Ciminello family: for refreshing my hope and my spirit with your
generous display of love and kindness. I can only hope and pray that the
rest of your days you will find encouragement and refreshment.
Thank
you Kym: for making the most of a very difficult situation and for not
taking advantage of the kindness displayed in your life. Many times
people's faith and trust in others can be marginalized or even
eliminated when one is burned by an ungrateful recipient of another
person's generosity. Kym, you have encouraged me and my faith in the
next generation of men and leaders.
Kym you are a leader. Don't ever forget it.
My
son, Bryce, doesn't graduate from Columbus Academy until the year 2014
(my fingers are crossed...toes too), but I'm going to make every effort
to be at this year's commencement to watch Kym and Anthony graduate. I
want to congratulate them on a job well done and share with them what
Coach Valvano said at the end of his speech in 1993; "Don't give up, don't ever give up", but I really don't need to tell them this.
Kym's mother showed him commitment and determination every day. Anthony's parents showed him you never give up on people and that you can do anything if you're determined to make a difference.
Kym's mother showed him commitment and determination every day. Anthony's parents showed him you never give up on people and that you can do anything if you're determined to make a difference.
Again, thank you Ciminello family and Kym: for showing me that ordinary
people can really do extraordinary things and that they can truly make a
discernible difference...thank you very much for being a wonderful
example and showing me the true definition of a family.
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