I couldn’t wait to get my fingers rolling across the keyboard. I can only hope to convey what I saw today out of one outstanding Philadelphia Eagles football player to you. My lesson I continue to learn.

My family can say we “know” Hank Baskett III, of the Philadelphia Eagles football team. No, we aren’t like his mother, cousin, best friend, Los Lobos roomate…. but we “know” him.  AChrome22, my daughter went to school a few years behind HBIII in Middle School during their Clovis, NM stunts.

Hank cares. Even through his famed career, he cares. It was so evident today – we all left with goosebumps.  After Eagle’s Football Training Camp, Hank saw AChrome and said, “Meet me over where you were before.” (He heard all of us screaming when he made every single catch that was thrown to him.) When he was finished official autographs, he made his way and stopped to visit with us. It was AChrome’s birthday – so he made sure she got some HBIII time and a sweaty hug

It was after our visit that time stopped for many people including me. A woman came over to the crowd of fans hopeful to receive his autograph, “Hank. Mary’s Mom is over there. She can’t get to you, but she’d like to see you.” “I’ll be right there” Hank said as he finished the last autograph (he always tries to get them all).

Hank went over to the woman wearing #84 and they grasped each other in a squeeze. Noone else existed around either one of them despite the massive crowd of people. As the woman sobbed tears, Hank hugged her so tight, his eyes did not wander. The woman had all of Hank’s attention. It was a painful moment; yet beautiful at the same time. I felt a bit like I was invading, however, both of them had each other completely and fully on their mind. The woman was in pain. Hank was comforting her. You can see in the picture above his intense focus on her.

I want to listen in this way. I tend to get distracted, or interupt people while I’m thinking of the next thing to say. I want to listen and be devoted like I witnessed today. It was beautiful. My prayers go out to the woman – I hope she received some comfort from Hank – and that it will continue to get better for her. I hope more than myself went away being touched by the focus of listening and compassion.

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