It’s a few weeks before Father’s Day, but this brief tale of some sons’ love for their father was worth celebrating in this week’s Feel-Good Friday.
Back in February, a heartwarming story emerged that still circulates online. There are numerous social media accounts dedicated to sharing positive stories, particularly those highlighting Black culture and achievements, that continue to share this story.
An Instagram account, @cj.richh, posted this reel of a son gifting his father with a black Mercedes-Benz.
A son surprised his father with a luxurious gift—an elegant black Mercedes-Benz adorned with a blue ribbon on the hood. The father was in disbelief when he witnessed his son arriving in this magnificent car, destined to be his very own.
WATCH:
Many of the commenters wanted an update, and also warned CJ about the expensive maintenance on the car. A week after posting the video, CJ replied:
Following the reveal, the father’s emotions overflowed, leading him to shed tears of joy. As he settled into the driver’s seat, he insisted on playing his Bob Marley 2-Disc music collection before driving off. The family humorously noted that they weren’t concerned about the vehicle’s upkeep, given the priceless happiness it brought.
This video is absolutely precious and a beautiful reflection of a son who greatly loved his father so much that he wanted to care for him the way he had been cared for.
I followed the links on @cj.richh’s account, and found that he is the founder of a wonderful mentoring program. The L.I.F.E. Mentoring Program was started by Christian (CJ) Richardson in 2014 at a school in South Carolina. The goal of the program is “to build character and foster resilience by supporting our scholars academically, socially, and emotionally.” Under the guiding hand of Christian’s brother, Dontell, and several others, the program has since expanded to Orlando, FL, Detroit, MI, and Nashville, TN.
A little backstory on the father. He is a former pastor, Rev. Dothan Richardson III. Rev. Richardson suffered a massive stroke in 2015, which resulted in aphasia, affecting his ability to speak. He no longer pastors, and he worked hard to get back his mobility and ability to drive. Rev. Richardson ended up taking the bus for a number of years, but suffered an injury. As Christian explained in the crowdfunding appeal he started toward raising money for the automobile:
Recently, while attempting to catch the city bus, my dad was injured. The accident only added to the challenges he’s faced over the past few years. In exactly 1 month, on February 4th, my dad will celebrate 65 years of life. On that day, I would love to see him receive a gift that would make a world of difference: a reliable car.
While the crowdfunding page doesn’t show much activity, apparently Christian, Dontrell, and their other brother found a way to bless their father on his birthday with exactly the gift they desired—and what a tremendous gift! We are changed for the better in having witnessed the love and honor shown to this man by his three strong sons.
There are too many bad news stories and videos circulating that reflect the opposite of this, so one that shows the positive aspect of strong men and families deserves all the promotion it can get. I speak from personal experience: this family is the rule, not the exception. What the legacy media and certain agenda-driven people like to promote is the exception, and tragically, that gets far too much traction.
I will do all that I can to change that calculus. Share this story, and help be a part of that change.
