These are a few of the words that come to mind when I think of my mother but two of them stand out more than most, STRONG and FAITH. My mother is the only woman I know that can make me angry with her brutal honesty one second and lift my spirits the next by adding two words. She has an incredible way of making you believe in something that you very well may think will never take place, and then to your surprise it happens. Her response, of course, is to look at you as if you were crazy ever to doubt.

I have so many wonderful memories of my childhood with my mother and I have always considered myself one of her best friends. Our relationship has not been perfect but who has a best friend they never fight with! She has been there for every major happening and for every disaster I have gotten myself into, and in most cases she even predicted some of them but allowed me the space to make my own discoveries.

I have always known my mother was a strong woman but recently, her strength has left me speechless.

My mother was detected with breast cancer in 2002, right around the time I was packing my bags, heading to Berkeley. I was devastated. I couldn’t breath. My whole world was turned upside down. But my mother made it through with God as her primary physician. Since then she changed her diet and limits herself to organic healthy eating 99% of the time. She made a change that most people couldn’t do and she made it over night.

Today we experienced a moment of strength. She needed me as much as I needed her and although all I wanted to do was take her by her hand and say ‘ mom, we don’t have to do this’, I looked at her in reassurance that we would be done soon and we were both going to be fine. I felt hollow inside and if I could’ve ran out, I would have ran and ran and ran until I collapsed in exhaustion but when she looked at me, she saw nothing but a strong facial expression that said lets move forward.

Today my mother gave me a gift. A gift of faith. I don’t know how spiritual you are but the bible has a reference to a mustard seed. It says if only our faith was the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains! I don’t know if you have ever seen a mustard seed, but it’s incredibly small. When my mom talks to me about things that seem nearly impossible, I believe otherwise because her faith does not waver. My mother has favor and I can’t wait to see what the exciting new plans are for her life.

I love you Mami!