Of surprise birthdays, family, and everything unspoken

My mother celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year and we are just so elated that she has reached another milestone! After 6 heart attacks, she is still in full swing and just celebrating life the way it should be. She had 3 celebrations, 1 done in our family home, the other a surprised visit from my aunt (her only sister), and the most recent, another surprise birthday party spearheaded by her youngest brother who is currently abroad. Boy! Was she happy to have been in the midst of relatives! Needless to say, her most recent celebration is not only to celebrate her birthday but a celebration of family, forgiveness, reconciliation. 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections

When forgiveness is real in the hearts of the giver and the receiver, then there is real peace. I would like to thank my cousins, my nieces and nephews, my aunts and uncles for coming! 

I'll never stop dreaming that one day we can be a real family, together, all of us laughing and talking, loving and understanding, not looking at the past but only to the future.

LaToya Jackson

Indira Gandhi, once said that "Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave", I am glad to be in the midst of people with like minds. Because family is everything! And that should always matter! So let me share with you something I came across online...

DECIDE TO FORGIVE

Decide to forgive

For resentment is negative

Resentment is poisonous

Resentment diminishes and devours the self.

Be the first to forgive,

To smile and to take the first step,

And you will see happiness bloom

On the face of your human brother or sister.

Be always the first

Do not wait for others to forgive

For by forgiving

You become the master of fate

The fashioner of life

The doer of miracles.

To forgive is the highest

Most beautiful form of love.

In return you will receive

Untold peace and happiness. Here is the program for achieving a truly forgiving heart:

Sunday: Forgive yourself.

Monday: Forgive your family.

Tuesday: Forgive your friends and associates.

Wednesday: Forgive across economic lines within your own nation.

Thursday: Forgive across cultural lines within your own nation.

Friday: Forgive across political lines within your own nation.

Saturday: Forgive other nations.

Today she decides to wear a dress and fix her hair

My daughter, I guess, woke up on the right side of the bed. I was surprised to see her on the eve of her birthday in a dress and wearing a clip on her hair. I was so happy yet did not want to spoil the moment by joshing her about it. You see, my daughter and I are very much alike in a lot of things. The way our mind works is pitch-perfect! Her sense of humor, her spontaneity, her bursts of emotions, oh and I'd like to think that her artistic skills and singing voice came from me too (though her dad is so sure that those came from him). When I was her age, I never liked wearing floral dresses, for me wearing a shirt and a pair of jeans is always fine. And she is very much like me in that area. But today! Boy! Her dad and I were both pleasantly surprised! I guess our little lady is finally growing up! 

Now that you are (secret) years old, I want you to make this moment and the days and years to come the very best of your life! Put into good use the talents that the Lord has given you. You were given those talents for a greater purpose, use them wisely!

Happy Happy Birthday Ally! May you grow in grace! May you always be happy! May I be able to contribute only good memories into your childhood. And if there ever are some of them that were not so good, forgive me but always remember that today and tomorrow are here for us to be able to change bad memories into good ones. I love you darling baby girl!