I wrote mama’s obituary ten years ago. She didn’t birth me, but she gave me life. I can’t imagine how her journey truly felt or how challenging it was to care for a baby that didn’t grow in her womb. Could you imagine opening the door to a screeching six week old, a permanent reminder that your marriage was broken? I’ll never know because She never reminded me. In fact, she would often call me her angel and blessing from God. My mother was truly virtuous, and I miss her each and every day. In honor of her beautiful, magnanimous soul and memory, here are a few of the many valuable lessons she taught me:
Love knows no bounds. Doing all things with love was her life’s work. She’d give you her last nickel or the shirt off her back. She didn’t birth me, but she gave me life, sacrificed hers after that. Oh, what love.
Pray, praise, be grateful. Her prayers were the best. She used to pray over me so much. Her prayers are still working and will for years and years to come.
A rolling stone gathers no moss and an evil wind doesn’t change. Don't uproot yourself due to negative people, places, or things. You don’t gather wisdom, experience, or even grace that way. Adjust, grow, and stand firm on who and whose you are.
Sometimes you have to feed people with a long handled spoon. You can love people from a mighty long distance, too.
Forgive and turn the other cheek. She was a master at this. I am not. I hold grudges and I will go deep-sea fishing in my memories. I don't forget how people treat me. Yet, she was still compassionate and giving to the very people who did not deserve it.
Hustle hard. Besides nursing, mama hustled: From pineapple upside down cakes, hair mixtures, selling our junk at the Swap Shop, being Uber before Uber Uber-ed, she did it.
There’s nothing a spoonful of mustard can’t fix. Got indigestion? Try it.
Never stop learning. Fun fact: I am a licensed nail tech and makeup artist. My mom enrolled me in modeling school at 10, childcare courses at 14 (my first job was at my former daycare center), and nail school at 16. She always encouraged my dreams, hobbies, and what-if’s. It’s never too early to nurture your little one’s creativity, gifts, or talents.
One bad apple spoils the bunch. Don’t be that apple.
It’s okay to be different. She’d often proclaim if I were a bird, I’d fly backward. She understood and embraced my goofy, quirky nature well before I did.
I’m everything I am because she loved me.
Missing Ma,
Ro’s Little Lady
