Daughters

My daughter, Brenda, turned 30 on Monday.  This is an event that gives a mother pause under any circumstances but this was also the day I received the news that one of my students was in the hospital and not expected to recover.  The two events should not necessarily be linked but in my head they most definitely were.  I'm so incredibly grateful for 3 decades of association with my sweet Brenda.  Let me tell you a little about her.  When my first child was born I loved her so intensely that I couldn't imagine ever having as much love for anyone else.  I was actually worried when I discovered I was expecting again that I might not love this child as much.  So I chose to name her  Brenda, "the warrior".  Brenda was named this because I knew in my bones that she would have to be able to advocate for herself.  I also chose the name in honor of my older sister (also Brenda) who has always been my advocate.  Brenda is the original "tough chick".  Like her mother she is a study in opposites.  As a child she was my little princess all in pink, lace, and rhinestones and the first one to eat the bug or jump in the pool.  As an adult she is a tree hugging, vegetarian, Air Force Reserve soldier girl, mom. I'm proud of my baby.  Not the kind of pride spoken of in the scriptures where I take any credit for or claim any glory in connection to the person Brenda has become; but the heart full of joy kind of pride I feel as I have watched this unique person define who and what she wants to be.  She has not made all of her decisions in the directions I would have her but she always, always takes responsibility for her own choices.  Brenda is loving, smart, and constant.  She throws herself completely into every responsibility she accepts.  My son in law and grandchildren are lucky to have her. (I suppose I could be biased).
   Now for the rest of this observation.  My student passed away on Thursday.  She will be buried next Saturday - on her 7th birthday.  She was born with Cerebral Palsy and has been in discomfort, if not outright pain all of her life.  Her parents will not know the joys I've experienced as Brenda's mother.  Yet their expressed desire for her memorial service is for us to celebrate their precious daughter's brief life.  We are each given very different tasks to accomplish in our time on earth.  Could it be that Brenda and I have so very much more to learn than my little student did that her mission on this earth could be accomplished in a mere 7 years?  Either way, I'm grateful for having known her, too.