Earth Angel

My aunt underwent brain surgery yesterday. This morning my sister called to let me know that she was finally in her room and that by all accounts, the surgery was successful. Oh, did I mention that the surgery took 18 hours? Yes, I said 18 hours…no typo here. Umm, let me add that this is the fourth brain surgery that she has endured. Now close your mouth and lower your brow.
My aunt is an amazing woman. She is definitely a person worth emulating. In our family, most would consider her to be the matriarch. She’s a natural born leader who has a tendency to put the weight of the world on her shoulders and carry it—and she makes it look so easy. She has no children of her own, but so many call her mom. She is one of the most giving people that I have ever met. I don’t think she realizes that she can’t help everyone. Whether financial resources, personal advice, constructive intervention, physical, emotional or spiritual support, she finds a way to give what is needed, when it is needed without seeking acknowledgement or praise for her deeds. She’s the type of person who sees a problem and makes a decision to be the solution. She’s a modern day Mother Teresa. During last year’s presidential campaign there was an ad that received a whole lot of attention…remember the ad that Hillary Clinton put out with the red telephone ringing at 3:00am that asked us who we wanted answering that call??? Well, my aunt is the one that answers the call in our family. She is the very definition of our family name.
So I guess you can just about imagine what yesterday was like for us huh? Pins and needles, that’s the understatement of the century! Of course my aunt had prepped us all for the surgery. She’d given instructions, assigned various people to fill important roles, discussed her will and other related business in the event that the unthinkable had occurred, and tried to assure us that she has lived a great life and was prepared should God decide to call her home. Up until the day of the surgery this natural born leader was still taking care of business and making sure that everyone else would be okay in her temporary absence (temporary absence was all we could fathom.) Even with all the prepping, praying, and positive thinking, we were struggling to get through every hour...it’s tough to remain positive through an 18 hour ordeal. Such an event can certainly help to put a lot of things in perspective. First and foremost, some of the things that we worry about on a day to day basis are really not as important as we think—it’s not brain surgery. Also, we have to take time out to show and tell our loved ones that we love them. We have to cherish every moment because history is made in the blink of an eye. Last but not least, we have to live each day to make a difference in our world so that when we leave this earth, it is indeed a better place for us having been here.
I am grateful that my aunt has been to Heaven’s door four times to interview for the Heavenly Angel position and that God turned her down each time. Not because she is unqualified, but because he has yet to find someone who could fill her current position…Earth Angel. Selfishly, I pray he never will.