Tag Archives: child

Being Grateful For Life Today to Celebrate a Birthday Tomorrow

Begin to look within, which starts by being grateful that you are alive today and maybe you will be able to celebrate another birthday.” ~ Debbie Centeno

Photography courtesy of Juan Pablo Arenas

Our Expectations

A few years ago, on September 8, I attended two events. The first one during the day was a memorial service/celebration of life. The second one during the evening was a birthday celebration. I’m sure you probably think the memorial service was an older person, while the birthday was for a younger one. That’s okay because it is natural to feel this way.

But let me clarify. The memorial service/celebration of life was for a 12-year-old child. A sweet boy who didn’t have a chance at living a normal life because of a devastating condition he suffered. A child that we all expect to run around, play sports, enjoy the many activities and attractions for children. To grow into a young man, fulfill his childhood dreams, become a good citizen and have a family of his own.

The birthday party we attended was for a 70-year-old woman.  She is a healthy person who raised three exceptional children. They surprised her with a birthday celebration, with Mariachis and all. A very well deserved celebration for a fine lady. Even though there have been some struggles, as we all have struggled in our lives, but it’s a blessing for her to reach the age of 70.  I wish her many more years of health and happiness. So, what’s your point?—you might ask.

See the Irony?

As I mentioned above, some might imagine an elderly’s memorial service; it’s just natural. From a very young age, we learn that when we grow old, we will die. We don’t think about dying at a young age—especially being a child. We are not mentally prepared to even contemplate a child dying. So it always comes as a shock. However, when it’s an adult person, especially the elderly, it seems okay.

Never Take Life for Granted

We are here today and don’t know about tomorrow. We should be grateful for all we have. I have heard so many times how people complain about not having enough money; not having the latest fashion; not having the new technological gadget they so much want; how someone made them lose their temper, and so on. Every day I hear more complaints than gratefulness.

I’m not talking about my family environment; I’m talking about anywhere and everywhere. If you turn on the news, it’s 95% bad (and I think I’m modest here); the same goes for social media. While driving to work in the morning, I see it on the streets. People in a rush to get to their destiny, some blocking others from going into their lane. Others are driving too close to vehicles in a menacing way. Then there are the ones we interact with daily either while shopping, eating out, work and even socializing! Do they realize they have another day to live? Maybe they should take one-minute a day to be grateful for the gift of life. This action will emanate positive energy into the world, which will bring positive things into their lives.

My Point Is

We must focus on living the life given with gratefulness, thus enjoying what time we have on Earth. Everyone has struggled. There are good times and bad times. Learn to look for the good in the critical moments and life will be more enjoyable. Some might think, “Well, you haven’t gone through any struggles!” My response? Yes, I have. Just like any other human, I’ve struggled. My biggest heartbreak was the loss of my oldest son. But I did not let it define me. I learned how fragile life is, and I learned to be grateful. I learned to take a negative situation and turn it around by looking for the positive in it, thus making me a happier person.

Happiness Begins Within Ourselves

I urge you to reflect on this and make a better life for yourself. Happiness begins within ourselves. No one can make us happy. Look within, which starts by being grateful that you are alive today and maybe you will celebrate another birthday.

Many blessings to all, may you live a long, healthy, and abundant life.


Diary of A Grieving Mother’s Heart

by Debbie Centeno

Ten years of journaling my grief, anger, sadness, and joys now available in Kindle version and paperback on Amazon. (Based on a true story)

Is It Human Nature To Judge?

Photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels

We Judge Without Knowing

We have a tendency to judge sometimes without even noticing it. I say “we” because I have done it too. I dislike judging people and never do it intentionally. Here’s what I recently learned.

Birthday Party Celebration

I had an invitation to Ann’s birthday party. Among the visitors was Ann’s 6-year-old cousin, Becky. Becky is autistic. I don’t know what type of Autism she has. She speaks and is quite hyper. Her mom, Catherine, monitored her daughter at all times. Believe me, she did not sit down to chit-chat with anyone.

people walking on hanging bridge during daytime

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Party Gone Wrong

Catherine was ready to leave, so she gathered Becky’s belongings and said her goodbyes, and so did Becky. Within seconds, someone opened the door and Becky sprung out. Catherine was right behind her. But, as Catherine approached her vehicle, which she had opened remotely, she did not see Becky.

The Search Begins

Catherine began calling Becky in and around her vehicle. But there was no sign of her. She shouted Becky’s name to no avail. Catherine returned to the house and asked if, by any chance, Becky had come back. No one saw her come back inside, but we searched the house, anyway. We couldn’t waste time, so we placed a call to the police. Meanwhile, all the party-goers sprung into action, searching for Becky. Most walked, a few others gathered their vehicles and circled the neighborhood. Even the neighbors joined in on the search once they realized that a 6-year-old autistic child was missing.

Jon Kabat-Zinn Meditation series 123

She Outran Everyone

Some people spotted her, but Becky outran anybody that tried to catch her or call her name. She would not stop. A woman told us that at one point she blocked Becky’s path with her car. The woman placed her car in park and got out to get to Becky. But Becky ran between two houses and evaded the woman. She could see Becky eyeing alternative routes. The police were on their way and once they arrived, they immediately released their K-9 to track Becky down. There were calls from witnesses eyeing a little girl with Becky’s description running past the strip mall on the primary avenue. Becky ran out of the subdivision, crossing two main roads, passing restaurants and stores on the strip mall. She was quick to evade all those searching for her. The police released a drone to help with the search.

The Search Is Over

Meanwhile at the house was Catherine. Even though desperate and worried about her daughter, she calmly answered the deputy’s questions. A few minutes into the interrogation, the deputy received a call. They had located Becky, but they needed Catherine’s help. Becky was 2.3 miles away from the house at a vacant lot where a new subdivision was being built. According to the deputy’s account, there were eight of them surrounding Becky trying to coerce her to come to them with her favorite toy. She paced from side to side as if searching for a large enough space between the deputies to run through. Becky kept them on edge while they desperately tried to close in on her. The deputies knew Becky would not allow them to get any closer.

On Sale 50% Off 468x60 banner 1

The Mother-Daughter Reunion

Catherine rode in a patrol car. For Catherine, they could not get there fast enough. They sped through red lights and intersections hoping to make it before Becky found a loophole to escape. Catherine was in shock and doubted that the child was her Becky. She thought, “Becky could not possibly have run this far,” but still had a glimmer of hope. Once they arrived, Catherine cried with joy when she saw her beautiful child. The deputy opened the patrol car’s door and Cathering ran out before collapsing on her knees.

She called out to her daughter, “BECKY, COME HERE TO MAMA!”

Becky ran to her Catherine, and they embraced in the most beautiful and loving mother-daughter hug.

photography of woman carrying baby near street during daytime

Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

How Did Becky Do It?

It was such a relief to see Catherine walk in with Becky. Other than a few scrapes, she was fine. But, we still ask ourselves, how did this little girl appear 2.3 miles away from the house? We don’t know. Thankfully she was safe. Yes, Becky is an autistic child and a very smart one too. The way she outran the woman who blocked her path and rerouted her way through. The way she crosses two busy streets and ends up at a vacant lot where there was a new subdivision going up. And, to keep eight officers on edge trying to figure out where to cut through, takes a lot of analyzing from a 6-year-old.

What Does This Story Have to do With Judging?

I’ve read about similar cases and the first words out of our mouths are, “Where were the parents?”

That’s the problem! We immediately judge the parents without knowing. In Becky’s case, I know for a fact that Catherine was there with her daughter. She walked out right behind her daughter. In a blink of an eye, Becky had dashed away from her mother’s sight and disappeared.

Moral of the story

Let’s agree not to judge others. We just don’t know what’s going on in their life.



Diary of a Grieving Mother’s Heart

Diary Of A Grieving Mother’s Heart is a compilation of my grieving journals, rants, sadness, and joy. I’ve been through many different scenarios – both good and bad – which have helped me reach the place of peace that I now have. I invite you to explore my journey and I pray that, as it helped me, it will help you. You can find it on Amazon in paperback and in Kindle version too.

Available on Amazon

The Spunky 5-Year-Old’s Gift

I Met A Little Boy

Every time I switch out purses, I come across my dingy old crucifix. It’s a silver and gold-colored crucifix with green gemstones, and made of some sort of plastic material. It is missing one gemstone. A spunky 5-year-old Caucasian little boy with beautiful green eyes gifted the crucifix to me. His name was Timothy.

It was the year 1981. I worked as a cake decorator at Baskin-Robbins. Timothy came in with his Mom every day and ate a French vanilla ice cream cone. Neither Timothy nor his Mom spoke Spanish, so I would tend to them since I was fluent in English. Timothy was not shy at all and asked many questions about ice cream.

Timothy loved the cake decorations and complimented my cake decorating skills. He especially enjoyed the ice cream clown cones, which were nothing other than a vanilla or chocolate upside down ice cream cone with a cherry as its nose, icing as its eyes, mouth, and decoration. His Mom didn’t buy those since Timothy liked French vanilla and I never made French vanilla ice cream cones.

One time on their usual visit, I said to him, “Wow Timothy, you are so lucky to have a Mom who brings you to get ice cream every day!” Timothy replied, “I sure am,” while licking away on his ice cream cone and chatting as he usually did. There was something about that little boy that made me stop what I was doing just to listen to him talk. If I was very busy, his Mom would prop him on the counter closest to my decorating area, and he’d continue to talk to me while I worked. He always made me laugh and smile. Timothy made me happy.

Unexpected News

I had not seen Timothy in about a week. One day, Timothy’s Mom dropped in by herself and purchased a pint of French Vanilla ice cream. I asked her about Timothy; she responded he was ill. I thought maybe he had a cold or something like that and asked. Her response left me in shock. She said, “Timothy has cancer and doesn’t have much time to live.” She told me he knew, but didn’t understand it too well.

She told him he could have whatever he wanted in the world and all Timothy requested was a French vanilla ice cream cone every day until the day he went back home to God. I was speechless and other than “I’m sorry” I didn’t know what else to say. She smiled, thanked me and told me that most likely she could bring him on Friday or Saturday if he was feeling better.

Expecting to see him that weekend, I made a single French vanilla clown cone for Timothy and wrote his name on the clown’s hat. It would be my little gift to him.

Friday came along and in ran Timothy with a massive smile on his face. I could hear him yell, “Hi Miss Debbie” in his sweet child’s voice. I turned around from my decorating area and went to greet him. He asked for his usual French Vanilla cone, and while he ran to the fridge where the cakes and clown cones were, I told his Mom about the clown ice cream cone I had made especially for him and asked if it was okay.

When she gave me the authorization to give it to him, I walked over to where Timothy stood and asked him if he knew how to read his name. He responded he did, so I motioned for him to look towards the clown cones. When he saw his name, he got very excited and asked if it was for him. I responded it was and gave it to him. I will never forget that look of happiness on his face over an ice cream clown.

The Old Dingy Crucifix

The next day, Timothy and his Mom returned. Timothy had a gift for me. He brought in an old worn-out, thin cake decorating ideas book and a small gift wrapped by him. He handed me the book and gift, and I unwrapped it. It was the crucifix. He told me he wanted me to have it, so I would never forget him. For the first time since I knew Timothy, tears rolled down my cheeks. He was the sweetest little boy I had known. I thanked him. He ate his usual French vanilla cone, and they were on their way. That was the last time I saw Timothy.

A few months went by when his Mom dropped in by herself. I didn’t need to ask. I already knew that she wasn’t there to buy ice cream. She was very sad. She looked at me and said, “I just want to thank you for your kindness towards my son. Timothy passed away a month ago.”

The rest of my day was a blur. I didn’t know Timothy that well, but he was such a delight that it was easy for anyone to feel love for him. Remembering that the crucifix was on top of the counter where I decorated cakes along with the cake decorating booklet, I walked towards it. I took the crucifix in my hand and vowed that I would never part from it or forget Timothy, and I placed it in my purse.

So as of today, every time I switch handbags, I transfer the crucifix into my new bag. And every time I come across it, memories of Timothy flood my mind. I will never forget him. Thank you, Timothy. May you rest in peace. With Love, Miss Debbie.