“If either of them falls down, one should help the other up."
~ Ecclesiastes 4:10
Women aren’t expected to be perfect
mothers just by virtue of having been born female. Jenna knew that first hand.
When her dad skipped out of their lives, her 9-year-old
sister Annie became the de facto mom. Not because they didn't have real mom
anymore, but because Dorothy spent every waking hour either hung over … or
drunk. So, it simply came down to: “If
not me … who?”
The clear liquid bathing
Dorothy’s ice by midafternoon was vodka. And that wasn't even the start of it. There was brandy in her morning orange juice
and sometimes whiskey in her coffee. By
dinner she slumped in her chair, drooling between snores.
Thinking back now Jenna remembered whining for the cool
stuff other kids had. She’d tried to
scrub those memories from her brain. She
was just a kid then.
Who knows what would have happened if Annie hadn't started
cooking and doing laundry. She knew all about
foster homes. They sounded more like
cattle pens with just as much love.
Annie walked her little sister to school, helped her with
homework, told her when to go to bed, and later even brought home a meager
paycheck. She sounded so much like Dorothy
it was like they were the same person. Yet
Annie was barely a teenager. Perhaps
that's why she never had any kids of her own.
Raising Jenna had been enough and she’d put her whole heart into the job.
When she was old enough to drive, Annie would pick Jenna up
after school even though she could’ve easily taken the bus. She’d hop in the front seat next to Annie and
tell her all about her day. Jenna felt
safe and peaceful when they sat in the car together.
But being a tiny, little kid in a big scary world wasn't so
bad. She knew that Annie loved her and
that’s all she needed.
Those times helped Jenna prepare for another special
relationship that she’d find later in life.
All those times she spent talking to and being with her earthly sister helped
Jenna open her heart to God, her Heavenly Father.
Annie’s beautiful love led Jenna to His. Annie’s comforting arms guided her to
His. Her gentle spirit inspired Jenna to
seek His. Even after Annie left this
world far too soon, Jenna could still feel her love flowing down from Heaven
along with His.
The next time this world seems too scary or hard - don't run
away. Instead invite God into the vehicle
of your soul, close the doors, and spend some time alone together. If you do you’ll know that you are loved. If you do you too will become loving, joyful,
and brave.
Heavenly Father, please shine Your light
upon my family. Bring us together as we are
meant to be. May the love that binds us
only grow stronger as we fulfill the destiny You have laid out for us. Amen
