That's Amóre....

Friends come into our lives at different seasons for different reasons.

This is something that I have come to know all to well over the course of this last year. 

I met this woman name "Penny" last summer as I took my girls to the pool. She is my neighbor in my building one floor below us. She is from the Bronx, blessed with her beautiful Italian accent and one of the very classy ladies with a soul like no one I have met.

Once we became friends, Mati began to draw her pictures and run up to hug her like she was her own Grandmother. Penny has no children of her own but loves on mine as if they were hers.

Her husband passed last year on December 2. He had Alzheimer's. Penny took care of her ailing husband day in and day out for the past 3 years, watching his health deteriorate while all the while loving my girls, bringing them treats and love. 

She and I prayed together. We talked. We cried. Although Penny is about 20 years older than me, I felt like we were old friends just waiting to meet again. 

God knew what she needed but really He answered my prayers in the same blessing. 

My mother and I have never connected in some maternal, mother daughter connection, ever. 

I never felt validated for being sad or upset. Having feelings meant being to emotional, a "cry baby" or even better "to sensitive". 

Sometimes in my life, I don't look up. I don't look around me, I just need a minute to focus. 

Last night, once again, over Italian food, a bottle of wine and some delicious gelato...God lifted the veil and showed me that He had a "replacement" for a mother. A woman with a loyal heart, empathy of a saint, a joyful smile to listen. 

She is truly a blessing to my life. She held my hand at one point and said "I love you". My heart almost burst. It was like those few words filled a 43 year emptiness. 

God-Thank you again for the blessings that you bestow upon me, the discernment to know what is best for my life and an understanding of what love looks and feels like. 

"A friend always loves and a brother (adoptive mother/sister in Christ) is always there to share troubles". 

Proverbs 17:17 

Amen