It is with my heart filled with love and pride that I introduce you all today to someone very special to me, my beautiful Niece Rebecca.
She loves like no one else I’ve ever known. From the time she was small she had a gift for saying “I love you” with her whole heart, with her whole spirit, with her whole self. Every time she spoke those words to me, which I am so grateful was often, I never had any doubt in my mind that she meant them. When she said I love you, I knew I was someone special, because she believed I was.
This beautiful young woman was taken away from us this week by a man with a gun. And over the next few days all of us that had the great pleasure of knowing her, and loving her, and receiving the gift of love from her in return, will gather together to say goodbye to her physical presence in our lives.
There will be no anger in my heart, there will be no confusion, there will be no revenge, there will be no questioning present in me when I embrace her mother, her sisters, her grandmother, and her friends. There will only be love, and pride and joy in my heart as I sit with them, and share with them, and remember with them all of the wonderful experiences we have all had the pleasure of sharing with Rebecca over the years – how she made us all feel worthy of her love by loving us so generously, as only she could.
In honor of my Dear Sweet Niece, I ask you to please do me this favor; tell someone today that you love them, with your whole heart wide open, without reservation, without hesitation, without limits, without boundaries, with a smile on your face and in your heart. Tell them in such a way so that they know that you meant it, so they have no doubt in their minds that they are someone special, someone deserving, someone worthy of being loved.
Rebecca did that for me.. The love that she had for me and expressed to me so generously and so frequently, helped me to learn how to see it and feel it and honor it myself. And by her example, I am learning how to love as openly as she did.
It was love that gave me the courage to take chances in my life, to take risks, to believe in myself and in my gifts and to believe that my gifts were worthy of sharing.
My hope is that today, inspired by her example, you will do the same for someone else.
Today, all the love in my heart is hers.
Rebecca – I love you,
Aunt Michelle
I will try to post if I am able to over the next few days. If I do not, know that I will resume daily postings when I return from my travels.
Be well Dear Ones. Take care of each other.
What a beautiful tribute to your niece. My heart is sore for you and your family and such tragic events…but love and remembering someone you love with happier thoughts and everything that this young woman brought into your lives? That is the most special gift.
Take time with yourself. Grief is a mistress all her own and moves as she feels the need. Listen to her. She and I are well acquainted and she’s very wise.
Sending love.