by Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

Tribute to My Son

Joe Batavia

Tribute to My Son

My son Joe

makes his mother proud…

envisions

an ideal

world: ethical, kind, just…

and he lends a hand.

Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

My Children…Ellen, Joe, and Katey. Joe’s service dog BABY.

Joe advocates for the rights of disabled people and disabled people with service dogs. During the pandemic, when homeless shelters closed their doors, Joe prepared hot food and delivered it to homeless people on the street. He helps homeless people whenever he can, finding information for them, giving them food, a pair of socks, or a haircut…

94 Comments

    1. Thank you, Preethes, for the lovely response. ❤ Glad you like the poem. I think the thing that makes me proudest of my son is that he gives hands-on help to those who need it.

      I wish you all the best for a joyous and productive week! 🙂

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      Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Silverstone, for your kind response. ❤

      Many of us make a contribution to an organization and feel that we have done our part, yet we ignore homeless people we encounter on the street. It costs nothing to smile and say hello. I agree with you that we have forgotten a valuable lesson.The human connection is often missing.

      I hope that your studies are going well. All the best for 2022! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Haha! BABY is a charmer, all right! Joe and BABY were both baptized today. I never heard of a dog being baptized before, did you? She is a lifeline to Joe. Thank you, Laura, for your kind comment! ❤

      https:/gulfcoastpoet.com/2020/09/11/baby-service-dog/

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Blessings to the both of your ‘babys’.
        🙂
        I like to think of a dog being baptized as a sort of St. Francis blessing of the animals…but no, I never heard of a doggie being baptized before!
        Did Baby ‘assist’ Joe in their baptism? I mean as a part of her ‘service’ in aiding in his ability to be baptized? Hope that’s not too personal a question…

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    2. Joe has injuries from auto accidents and is often in pain, but is coping fairly well. He lives in an apartment in North Florida with BABY. I suspect that the minister just baptized BABY because, as always, she was there beside Joe. Joe sounded pleased when he called to tell me about it today. 🙂 I too thought of Saint Francis blessing the animals, Laura.

      “Baby, Service Dog,” is the poem mentioned above.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  24. Thank you so much, Kritika! Joe’s personal approach to helping others is something I too admire. I think you are also a person with many fine qualities to emulate. All the best to you. Health, happiness, and success for the future! ❤

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  26. Hi Cheryl,

    I’m feeling so happy for Joe, that he helps disabled people in various ways. This signifies us.

    Keep doing the noble work.

    “A human for human”.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  39. Cheryl, a beautiful and loving tribute to your son … such wonderful attributes and no wonder you are filled with pride and love! I’m sorry to see through the comments that he suffers pain following an accident. That sounds horrendous and it take incredible fortitude to carry on life and even more to continue giving to others. A great guy!

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  41. A beautiful tribute to a boy who deserves it. Shows how well you’ve raised him. Thank you for sharing his work here. He’s such an inspiration. You have all the right to be proud. Kudos to you and to him.

    Liked by 2 people

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