Love Personified

Many of us use the word LOVE quite often. Some of us abuse it even. But few of us know what it really means. Love is a doing word. Less about what you say and more about what you do. All about walking the talk. It is giving without expectation, toiling for no reward or recognition.  When you truly love someone you don’t need to say a word. Your actions will speak for you.

 I have seen love with my own eyes. Well not really but I have met someone who embodies the very meaning of love. She is the colour of love...lol. She is a huge part of my life and she is just amazing. The things she has done for other people- especially me are out of this world.

 I was 18 and my world had just fallen apart. My mother had just died and with no one to take care of us my brothers and I had to be “distributed” amongst our relatives. She ended up with me- headstrong and difficult yet broken. I was so afraid with so many unknowns staring me in the eye. Yes she had always been around while I was growing up. My brother had been in her wedding and we sometimes went to her house for the holidays. She was one of the few people who came to visit while my mother was sick and I thought she was nice enough. But going to live with her was a whole different story. I’m sure we’ve all heard all those horror stories about kids being abused by relatives. Well I had heard them too. Needless to say none of my fears came to life.

 I am at a loss for words right now because there seems to be none that can adequately describe her. She took me in when no one else would and made me one of her own. She treated me the same as her girls and she looked past my many flaws and showered me with love. She gave me advice and corrected me when necessary.  She has taught me a lot and even now that I’m married and out of her house she still does. She tended to me when I was sick. She has never tried to buy my love nor is she afraid to reprimand me. She is as real as they get. The woman I am today is a direct result of her efforts and I am eternally grateful (I know my husband is too).

 She is a huge part of my support system –always eager to lend an ear or a shoulder or both. I know I can call on her day or night and she will gladly answer.  I don’t know where I’d be had God not placed her in my life. She can never take my mother’s place but she’s a close second. Because of her, her children also have shown me a great deal of love. I can’t for the life of me call them cousins... they are now my sisters. And I love them to bits.

 She is my mentor, friend, mother, sister and aunt rolled into one. She has been there for me from that very first day and in her house, correction home I have always felt welcome. Tears come to my eyes whenever I think what would have happened to me had she decided to look the other way and let someone else take me. I know my life would have turned out differently. Like I said earlier words fail me when I talk about her and I know I can never repay her for what she has done in my life.

 I pray though, that God blesses her and expands her territory. That He grants her the desires of her heart. I pray also that He makes more women with hearts like hers. Men too. And if He could make me half the woman she is that too would be nice.

 She is loved and respected by all who know her. Her husband, children friends and in laws. In my eyes she is a Beautiful Black Woman