L.J Williamson is a retired Atlanta Police officer. The mother of two had a son who joined the military, and she’d not seen him for 2 years. Williamson was being honored at a pep rally for a Christmas charity event, where she got a Christmas present of her own.
The retired police mom was at Therrell High School for that very Christmas Charity event when all this happened.
L.J made a bit of a name for herself for taking care of people, young and old, who’d otherwise been scared to ask for help.
One of the speakers at the event tells everyone how much L.J’s help meant to him.
When he became a father for the first time, he was scared and didn’t know what to do. L.J held out a helping hand to him, asking him if he needed babysitters while regularly checking in on him.
That’s just one example of how kind and motherly L.J was, and I suppose she had to channel that motherly energy somewhere while her son was deployed.
“I cried for probably about a month.” – Williamson recounts of when her son first set off to serve in the military
It ain’t easy having a loved one in the military. The constant fear for their safety, and not having them to come home to.
L.J’s eldest son was U.S. Army Spc. Shakir Aquil, who’d been away serving in South Korea for those 2 years.
“This baby that I had when I was a baby. I was just 18 when I had him, we kind of grew up together and I felt like a part of me was displaced with him being so far away.”
And that very son is here to surprise her, and she has no idea. While he waits in the back, the speaker continues on about how sweet of a person L.J is.
She was truly a sweet and loving person, and this man speaking into the mic spells that out for everyone.
He tells her that there’s someone else who wants to thank her.
Everyone’s attention is turned to a projection screen, L.J especially. It’s her son, who gives a heartfelt thank you to the woman who raised him.
He might be a big, strong military man now. But he was a little boy at one point, and he owes who he is to his mama.
In the video, Shakir tells his mother the words “You’re getting an award and everything and I just wanna say I’m proud of you. I know you haven’t seen me in two years – and I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in enough time to support and see your award.”
Well, that was a bit of a bait and switch. Shakir was inside the building this whole time, and he came out soon after to greet his mama.
As he walked out, the attendees cheered deafeningly and L.J had to fight back tears. Her beloved son had come back after 2 years to see her, and the waterworks began.
L.J tenderly embraced the son she’d not seen for 2 years, and he embraced her back. I could hardly blame you if you’re crying too.
“I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. This was the biggest thing anyone could have done for me.”
With his little brother joining their little family reunion, the three went out to eat and make up for all the years they couldn’t be together.
It’s an outcome that we wouldn’t have any other way.
Watch the moment Shakir surprised his mama in the full clip below. Wholesome stories are best shared around, so share this article with more people too!
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