Debbie Sue aka Mama..and sometimes as “Big money” or “Granny” (a funny nickname given to her by children) was a woman that had a life of pain and struggles of her own. However, if you didn’t know her, you wouldn’t be able to guess any of these hardships that she faced almost on a daily basis because she was a very given person to any one who needed her! Family, Friends and sometimes even Strangers. But most of all, she was very given to her children.

It was just hard for her to say “No”.

Even when there were times she wouldn’t even know how she could help? What she couldn’t do is say “No” to you. I guess she just thought she would figured out on how she would help you. She would try her best.

Besides, being the best mother she was to her children..She was also a good friend. There were times that she would cry with you if you were in pain almost as if she wanted her tears to ease off your pain (And her tears did helped my pain once when I thought I was losing her son). What a great listener she was then. I will miss that. She often check on you too after she’d leave to make sure you were okay. I want to believe she’ll continue to do this from where she is now.

I’m almost certain that she’s trying her best to try to find a way for her children to know that she’s still here….That she can still see and hear them…And that she feels their pain. She’s trying her best to comfort them from where she is.

She wasn’t perfect because none of us are. However, she was perfect to her children who saw beyond her imperfections and loved her as much as she loved them! (I understand their love now).

It’s been through them that I’ve come to learned the special bond they had and still have through this new phase. Because that’s all it is…a new phase. A temporary one.

She gave them the love that only a mother knows how. That only a mother can. She is simply irreplaceable.

Sometimes there were times she had some regrets (like we all do)….

Sometimes there were times she wished she could’ve done more for them (like most mother often feel).

But the one thing she always did faithfully was to tell them how much she loved them. She did this everyday!

And they all had their own special time of the day or the night that belonged just to them!

For example, the times that belonged to Rick were around the times she would wake up (which sometimes she would alternate between her children) but most times these times belonged to Rick because he would be the one at home (while the other ones were at work).

Then she would call him again (or he would call her) around 2 p.m as he was heading on to work. I guessed this was a way for her to know that he made it okay to work.

The next time was 9:00 p.m. (What would be considered his lunch break). She would talk to him until he made it home and then again when he was heading back to work after his break was over.

The same thing would happened when he was finished with his work shift at around 11:30 p.m. If he didn’t call her as soon as he was off…she would call him to make sure he’s ok!
And if he didn’t answer she’d wait only a few before calling ME to know if I had talked to him? But this discrepancy of their daily routine had to be accounted for!!! Somehow or by some one!!! It didn’t matter. As long as she knew he was fine.

That was her motherly way to show him how much she cared for him. She always needed to know he’d make it home safe.

I’m certain she did this for her other children too. Of that I’m certain of! She loved them all the same.

Each one of them with their own special times that she would dedicate to them. It was her way of showing them that she thought about them at all times and she loved them very much!

As an adult, you come to realize that although, LOVE, wasn’t the only thing you needed from your parents…it was the most important part. It doesn’t matter if they couldn’t provide you with this or that because at the end you grew older and you were able to provide does things on your own. But the ONLY thing you could never get from anywhere or anyone else is the love of your parents. Especially, the love of your mother. And Debbie gave them a lot of that! She left them feeling her love for them.

She also left feeling very proud of them. That they were able to build their own lives, their families and their own decisions that lead them to be the great human beings that they are today. She took a lot of pride in that.

I’m sure she’s sad at this moment that her children are hurting and that they can’t even hear her say “I love you”. But I’m sure she’ll l find a way to make them feel that she always will.

And with each memory they have of her…they will cry, smile or both. But they will feel her presence. A mother never leaves her children to suffer alone!!! She will find a way to help them heal this ‘temporary’ departure.

She left her vessel until her last breath loving them and she will continue to do so from the home that awaits us all, Heaven.

She is with Jesus now, who once gave his life for us to give us the promise that we’ll once reunite again. So, we will see Debbie again. But when this day comes..she’ll be free from pain and far away from struggles.

Just like she asked her children to say before she left…”Let’s not say goodbye…Let’s say I’ll see you later.”