𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 – 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 16𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳

I was crying; I felt beaten. I had failed myself and could hardly bear my own presence. In anguish, I expressed my disappointment to her. Wide-eyed, she looked at me and said, “Laurie, I think you’re wonderful!”

I was elated. Words weren’t there because they would only fall short of describing the joy within. The judge had signed the papers and those girls were my daughters, officially, legally, really. Mom captured the moment on camera; Mom found the eloquence I lacked; Mom hugged her grandbabies.

I was terrified; I was watching my dog Rosie fight a bigger, vicious dog just feet from me. I had grown up with her and now she was yelping, fighting a losing battle. I shrieked a sound I’d never heard from myself. Mom came running from the other side of the house and chased off the unknown dog while I stood there frozen.

I was exhausted; I had barely made it and I had worked my tail off. I was ecstatic to have made it but still I knew it was barely. Mom said she’d seen how hard I’d been working. She said she was proud of me and told me how she could see my work paying off.

I honestly thought I was going to die; the snake was inches from my toes and I was frozen in fear again. The snake went downstairs into the basement and the cat chased it. I couldn’t save her. The snake would get me if I did. Mom heard my shriek again and came to the rescue. That lady could fix any bad situation.

I thought I must be losing my mind. I was about to make a decision that would turn my life upside down and probably this little girl’s. I hadn’t yet gotten my own life together and yet I’d decided to be responsible for hers. I wondered if I was insane. Before I hung up with my mother, she had one more thing to say, “Laurie… I’m proud of you.”

I held the guilt inside. I had missed her last Christmas on earth. My grandmother had warned me that her time was coming but I didn’t believe it. I told her she had another 10 years at least. She said simply “No, I don't.” She died less than 2 months later. I hurt so badly with guilt and shame and I kept it bottled up until Mom told me to talk to her. Then the floodgates opened. Mom took my hand and told me what she knew. She told me my grandmother loved me and forgave me and that she knew how much I loved her. She told me my grandmother wouldn’t want me hanging on to that shame.

We had just finished shopping. Mom made sure I was decked out with fancy shoes, matching purse, and hair ornaments. Still, I was nervous - it had been so long since I had dressed formally... What if I weren't pretty? Jokingly, I asked if I would be the prettiest girl at the dance. Mom nodded reassuringly - I'd be the prettiest girl in the whole city of New Orleans, she asserted.

I was confused. I couldn’t make sense of this feeling inside. I knew with my brain that God is real but I couldn’t hear Him; I couldn’t feel Him. She understood it; she also knew the words to express it and to comfort me. She assured me that sometimes our faith grows in the moments when we know without feeling, when we trust without understanding.

I could keep going. I’ve got decades’ worth of examples. I think you get the picture, though. My mother just happened to be a person who plays that role for me. For many of you, it may have been someone else – that person who modeled grace, compassion, and strength, that person who taught you you’re loveable and that you bounce back, that person who instilled the value of hard work, that person who rejoices with you and feels for you, that person who watches even when you don’t know she is and knows what you’re feeling even when you don’t, that person who molded your faith and helped you find your intimate and personal relationship with God. Hopefully, rather than one person, you have "those people." Let’s honor them, not just today but every day. Let’s honor them by expressing our gratitude and by living up to the example they set.

Comment below and tell me a little about your person.

We all have that person in Jesus Christ. He modeled the Father's love for us and showed us compassion while guiding us. He was a servant, washing the feet of the disciples; He was a giver, leaving us with the Holy Spirit; He was willing to sacrifice, as we remember the cross; He was a teacher, interpreting the scriptures and telling parables to the crowds; He prayed for us, even as He hung on that cross; and He commanded us to go forth and love others as He loved us.

You are loved, in so many ways. Now go share that love.