A Diamond in the Turf

All this summer I have been having a neighbor boy cutting my grass as I am not able to.

I found him from a note pinned to my mailbox. I called him and agreed to the price per cutting. Soon he showed up for the first cutting.

He has labored under the blazing sun and humidity all summer long. At times he would knock on the door and ask if he could get his water bottle refilled. He would stand there with sweat poring off his face and soaking his tee shirt as I refilled his bottle he went then back to the job at hand.

At times I would suggest he come back at a cooler time. He would reply, "No, you gotta do what you gotta do."

All summer long he would cut the grass after asking us, several days before, to set the appointment. He would show up, as agreed, equipped with a power mower, gas and a battery powered weed trimmer, and went to work.

Over and over he would come despite the heat and humid weather that the South is famous for; walking back and forth behind the push mower cutting the lawn row by row. Sweat pouring of him with the only break he would take was to ask for some water — always polite "yes, ma'am," "thank you ma'am." Never a complaint. Back to work he would go cutting, and trimming as well as edging.

One day I asked him what he did with the money he earned cutting lawns. His answer blew me away. He replied: "I give the money to my mom and dad to help with the bills."

I asked him if he got to keep any of the money? He replied, "No my family needs it." and then said matter of factly, "You gotta do what you gotta do."

Plain and simple.

When he turned and left, I cried. Here was truly a diamond in the rough, playing the cards dealt to him. Helping to do his share in working to help his family get through a rough spot in their lives. I was so proud and humbled. Truly a diamond in the rough.

He is only 12 years old.