GOODBYE OR GOOD NIGHT 2

Although I had my problems, I was never one to throw it to the face of my family members. Its not like they didn't know, they were fully aware, but the love they showed me was so overwhelming that I could never do anything to hurt them intentionally. I was the 3rd child of my parents out of 5 children. My mother called me the Bridge of the family. She said since I was the middle child, I was to bridge the gap between my elder ones and my younger ones so no one felt left out in the home. Mother always did this sort of thing, she always made everyone feel special and important in the home. She gave each of us assignments which were essential to the growth of the family. They were not chores nor tasks that you did and that was it, they were more like missions which would last for our entire lifetime. My elder brother was the first and he was the Protector, my elder sister was the Giver, I was the Bridge, my younger sister was the Lover and the youngest of us, my brother was the Peace maker. Mother said all these names represented an attribute of Christ and that if we were to be more like Christ, then we should practice these things in our everyday lives. She also said that in carrying out these duties and responsibilities to one another, it would make the home a better place for all of us.

Mother was right about that. The house was wonderful. It wasn't like we didn't have fights or quarrels, we did. But because we all knew our positions in the home, it made things easier and so when there was a fight, somehow everyone was able to work things out without hurting one another or having grudges against each other. 

As father looked away from me, I turned to mother, as I did, mother smiled so peacefully and lovingly at me. Mother was very loving, caring and a wonderful person. She was also a very strict disciplinarian but when she scolded you, she always had her arms open to draw you into her love. Mother was truly a virtuous woman, you could see the God in her, feel Him, touch Him, I always prayed for a wife like mother but she always told me I would find one better than her and I always wondered how that was possible. I doubted that there was any woman on earth that was as perfect as she was. There was no way there could possibly be another of her much less a better person than her. I loved mother so dearly. So when I saw the smile on her face, I knew that no matter what the problem was, I would be able to handle it somehow.

...to be continued!