MY FIRST MOTHER'S DAY, LIKE NO OTHER ...

Momma, I could not have asked for a better mother. You have been the rock of ages in immeasurable ways. I could not fathom all that I have been able to do without your wise counsel and the home you and daddy built together. Both of you taught each one of us of the importance of the most important African proverb … “it takes a village”.

I hope that I make you both proud, but especially you momma. My life was forever changed when daddy departed this earthly world when I was eight years old. You epitomized a level of strength that I could only appreciate later in life. The depth and breadth of it, wow. I can say that you are the strongest person I will ever know.

This Mother’s Day will be particularly touching, moments of reflection and laughter, contemplation and reverence. My best teacher continues to teach me even now – engineering and master degrees and all. You have parented, raised, and influenced many from those bounded by blood to those bounded by love and friendship. You certainly believed in and doled out plenty of tough love. Yet, what many often forget is that this must be grounded in a supportive caregiving environment. I was in a community meeting once and was asked to explain further “I knew that I was loved”. I simply said that no matter what, I knew that I was loved at all times. Your love is deeper than momentary platitudes – in essence, unconditional love which is different from the expectations that were held. Too many children are deprived of such realities, far too many more only know traumatic experiences absent of genuine love that destroys futures. Thus, I know that we (and I particularly) have been richly blessed. Your kindness, love, friendship and more has meant so much to so many, sometimes you may not have realized it. Mrs. Diane said it best while visiting her at Mission Hospital. (Paraphrased) She said, “Your mother has a special kind of love, and if you’re a lucky recipient there is nothing like it. I am a fortunate one indeed!”

I cannot forget how you pushed me and my brothers. I could (and mostly did) think your focus was always perfection. To a degree that is correct. However, what you really sought is excellence – a far nobler endeavor. You see the potential greatness in many and push each of us to search for it within ourselves. This is something I believe that you got from great-grandma Callie. She maintained her connectedness to the ancestors that came before her and passed their wisdom forward. You have done so much momma, I will pass this onto Amalia with the help of the village too.

But that strength, it is awe-inspiring!! Recovering from a complex cardiac surgery, undergoing rehabilitation, increasing your hemodialysis time by 25%, and adding thoracentesis into the mix for seven months is simply staggering for someone knocking on the door of 90 years young. Never mind the fact that you have been on dialysis for nearly 25 years too!!! I realize now unmistakably that this strength has always been grounded in unshakable faith in God.

Bill Withers' “Grandma’s Hands” spoke volumes to me before the first meeting between you and Amalia. You got to see, hold, and interact with your future on Easter 2017. I nearly broke into a crying fit when this priceless moment occurred. I am thankful for the nearly one and a half years that God granted us. Now that you and daddy are reunited for all eternity, I can only seek to join you all one day when I too am called to my heavenly home. Until then, I have work to continue as set forth generations before for those that will come afterward. I thank God for giving me and my brothers a mother like you, someone of Grace, Conviction, Poise, Strength, Perseverance, and so much more. I love you with all of my little heart … Happy Mother’s Day Momma!!!!!