Can you imagine taking on the unbearable task of burying your child? Well I obviously don't have any yet, but I sure couldn't.
Pedro Taylor, the father of the late Sean Taylor, has no choice. After Sean was murdered Monday in a ridiculously senseless crime, the elder Taylor has dealt with a lot. And the way he has gone about it is nothing short of amazing.
Just a little over 24 hours after Sean passed, Pedro was on a plane with Jackie Garcia, Sean's girlfriend, to Ashburn, Virginia.
He met with the team Wednesday and spoke to a group of grown men, many twice his size, and gave them great words of courage.
According to a Redskins' press release Mr. Taylor told the team that Sean would want them to play and win the next five games and make the playoffs.
Wow. If that's not a rallying cry then what is? I don't think the guys are completely focused on football, but the fact of the matter is that they have a game to play Sunday. Pedro realized this and told it like Sean would have.
When ESPN's Pedro Gomez talked with Pedro Taylor on Friday, the Florida City police chief even had words of advice for society as a whole. He selflessly spoke of the problems of crime in the country as a whole — not just focusing on Sean's murder. He alluded to the fact that kids who commit crimes like this, are the kids that people didn't take the time to talk to or give a chance.
How many of us, in his shoes, would have just cursed the killers and let our emotions and instincts get the best?
Not this selfless father, though. Everyone can really use him as an example. Sean sure did, and that is why all you are hearing from the team is that he was a great teammate. A dedicated teammate who would stay after with offensive players in order to help them get better.
Not all of us can directly help the Taylor family, but we can do what Sean would do. Be there for the ones you love and care for, because you never know when they will no longer be amongst you.
On my way to the game this weekend, I'm definitely gonna stop by my parents and give them a hug. Especially my mom who may be taking on major surgery in the coming days. I'm gonna try to focus on the positive and not worry about it.
In the last year Sean really turned is life around, leaving only positive things to be said by the ones who were closest. It's amazing how much we can take from a person many ignorantly considered a "thug."
R.I.P Sean and thanks for being who you were and inspiring so many people.
Go Skins. Do it for 21.
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