Turtle Life
I originally wrote and posted this on my old website back in 2001.? As today is Mothers Day I wanted to reprint it and share a little something about two mothers who were so important in my life.? I hope you find this okay.
In praise of strong women
I love strong women.? I’m not ashamed to admit it.? I don’t consider myself a weak man as I take care of my business, but I’ve been blessed to have been raised with some very strong women in my life.? Because of this I know just how well a woman can do for herself in this world and I appreciate all the women who do take charge of their lives and don’t rely on someone else to make it for them.? I’m going to tell you about two of those strong women now.
Today is my sister’s birthday.? (Happy birthday, Gena!)? I want to tell you about her because she is such a great person.? She has down played this special day because she is too busy with church and things like helping her daughter through the final exams of her first year in college and preparing her home for next week’s Mothers’ Day weekend.? That’s the way she is.? Enjoying her church life and looking after somebody else.? She really isn’t into worrying about herself, although she could.
Several years back this disease arthritis decided it would descend upon her much too young body.? Since then she has fought with it’s debilitating effects.? It has cost her a great career as a nurse mid-wife and put her on the roles of the disabled.? Although she has to suffer daily with much pain from the disease you won’t hear her complain.? Yeah, her mobility has been cut back, but she still gets around living a very full and blessed life.? She is the mother of the family’s only grandchild and that little girl is now, as mentioned above, finishing up her freshman year of college.? Sister ain’t missed a beat.
There are times when I look at my petty little problems forgetting what she has had to endure and feel so sorry for myself.? It’s easy for me to forget about her ordeal because she does such a great job of getting on with life despite it.? Yeah, then I look at her and what she’s done and I get renewed strength and a better attitude.? Inspiring?? Yes, she is.? Am I proud to be her little brother?? Very much so.? But not because of the adversity that she has had to overcome.? It’s because she is one of this world’s great people.? She’s not a media celebrity, but she is one of those people that really make this world a good place to be.? Thanks and praises to God for my sister Gena.? Keep on sis.
Sunday May 13th gets the honor of being the date this year that we recognize and honor all of the mothers of the
world.? Well, at least, we do in this western civilization.? Cool.? I get to recognize, once again, the strongest and most influential woman in my life.? Yeah, you got that right.? I’m talking about my mother.
This is a lady who after being a school age athlete suffered a heart attack in her early twenties.? The doctors said to her, “No more children,” but she had two more anyway.? A black woman from the fifties and sixties who took those three children and raised them up right while holding down a full time job as a nurse and dealing with the problems that a woman finds with an abusive husband.
She persevered and eventually got out of that marriage, but never failed to be there for her children.? Many times she was their best friend.? Taught them how to be good, loving people, putting them through college and on to lives as good citizens.? Gave them all the love and support they could ever ask for throughout their entire lives and she has always provided for us.? None of us kids has ever wanted for anything thanks to our mother.
But she did more than take care of us.? Her wisdom and loving ways have always been a guiding light to not only us, but to all who have come to know her whether it be through work (that job where she only put in 30 plus years), family ties (have a talk with my cousins about her impact on their lives), church or where ever one can be in order to become friends with her.? Momma is loved and respected by all who know her.? She is just the best.
Now as the years of struggle have taken their tole on her and her health isn’t always so good she is still giving and caring and helping and inspiring.? She’s slowed down a little, but what she does is still huge to a lot of folks.
God blessed this world with her as surely as this world has been blessed by all of the people over the years who have contributed to the advancement and the betterment of our kind, the human world.
Praises.You women, out there, be strong.? Don’t be afraid to be your own.? I can tell you.? You are magnificent when you do.? Us men?? We are weak.? When faced with troubles we get all offensive and go get guns and things trying to beat down what we perceive as threats to our securities.? Women, strong women, simply overcome.
Dedicated to the memories of Estella Saunders 1930 – 2007 and Eugenia Bradfield 1950 – 2009.? Mother, daughter, sister, heroes.? I love you.? I miss you.? I thank God for you two being such a large part of who I am.? Your son and your baby brother,
K
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