What is it about them that presses my buttons so much and can bring me such joy all at once? They are soldiers, spiritual warriors waging their battles with life just like it was from the beginning as they opened their eyes for the very first time and struggled to take that first breath.
They were so tiny and in need of every little thing to be done for them. So fragile and yet so vital to overcoming such odds since the beginning of their conception. Their gaze is illuminating, and little smiles can make the most complex heart melt into puddles, just like on the heaviest rainstorm of your imagination.
I never knew fully how they came to be who they are. I never really before took a second look. I only knew they came into being; they grew, demanded, and got what was wanted purely with the idea that they could not do for themselves, and so, therefore, they needed me. They looked up to me. I was the warrior queen and the protector of all universal hazards. I could ease the pain of a broken heart with one touch of ice cream, and suddenly this warrior queen they called “Mom” had brought about world peace and calmed the stormy seas.
Each one has delivered to me a message beyond my comprehension. Each one has given unselfishly of themselves and asked nothing except provision and protection. They are Gods and Goddesses in their own right, and each has created exactly what was supposed to be.
My son Jayson David has the strength of a warrior king. He knew and knows the value of standing up for what we believe in. He did it so eagerly and with such grace. He never questioned the loss of mortality in this lifetime. He only used the weapon of his determination to get where he desired to be. He came against all odds and many persecutions to be the man he was, and in spirit, still is. His laugh was contagious, and a person could not help but be “light” in his presence. He knew the scorn of his peers, yet he treads on, even if it meant death, for the end of the mortal body was much better a pill to swallow than the death of the soul. He brought “soul” to this planet, and with a soul, he still lingers to witness the injustice that took his life. He would give the shirt off his back to a friend in need, and if they asked, he would willingly give his pants too. That was Jayson David; that was his way.
Christina Marie is a willful young lady with eyes as deep as muddy pools. Her soul carries the stripes of Christ from a very young age. She bears anger in her spirit yet tempers it with humor and tenacity to get where she desires to go. No one comes against her and wins. She is a warrior queen, and she sets her mark on those that endeavor to take the life from her. She stands as tall as the mighty oak but bends softly to experience the tenderness of a small puppy she fondly calls “Blue.” Her heart is strong but can be broken so easily. She shows the battle scars of what life has done to her, yet the victories of how she overcame all the advancements of society she wears as her crown. She is a messenger of Goddess and takes no less than the best that life can give. She scorns all who would steal from her and yet understands their weakness to take that which is not for them to take. She is Christina Marie; she knows the value of standing in her powerful being, and because she is WHO she is, no one will attempt any longer to overpower her.
Sherry Lynn is sweet and kind. Her gentle innocence graces the room the minute she walks into it. Her light is soft and kind. She gives with no limits to those who are hurting and in need of nurture. She loves deeply and fully accepts all who come her way. She is Goddess personified, and her beautiful flashing blue eyes are the rays of hope to all who are lucky enough to be included in her living space. She warms the weary soul and holds her hands out to all who need to be lifted. She is wise beyond her years and her tears have watered many a garden which has sprouted new growth and continues to do so everywhere she goes.
Keith Charles is quiet and deep. He is soulful and righteous, along with talented and charming. He holds the gifts of artistic flair as a breastplate against the world of academics. He is not mainstream; he is the main line. He knows the value of a great hug, yet the tender soul that gives his love through his art still seeks them for himself whenever he is able. He is focused on the world around him with a heart that touches the animal kingdom. He is there for them, nurtures their being, and brings humor to humanity. He is often afraid but never shows it. He is brave and a warrior of peace upon the planet. He wages no war, only manifesting peace with the air of innocent dignity. He grows as the willow, constantly bending and riding with the tides of the earth.
Sarah Jenine laps up life for all it is worth. She takes in everything that is good and holds it dear and close to herself. She quietly journeys the winds of time and steadily steers her craft through the torrential storms. She thirsts for knowledge and writes about her life and her experience. She dreams of who she is and where she desires to go. She is an angel of hope to those who pass her way and teaches the discipline of academic achievement, and finds in it, her bliss. She is blessed to be called the “giver of life,” as her name states that she is, for she gives life to all who cross her path by the silent prayers she deeply keeps to herself like a treasure waiting to be someday opened. She alone holds the key to this box. She alone has held tightly the dreams, prayers, and visions of better days to come. Her optimism is complete in the greenness of her eyes, for she fruitfully grows everything she plants.
They are my life and my salvation. They who have looked to me for life and protection are the treasures and the gifts of many lifetimes, bringing their grace to me from sunrise to sunset. I have stood tall and often weak before them. They have seen, and they have learned. Each one is a piece of my soul and a part of the story I tell.
Their eyes were always watching. Their hearts were always learning, and now they are my heroes, my breath, and my existence. They hold the keys to my spirit and spill out the wisdom of life through their actions, dreams, and struggles.
Thank you, dear ones, for coming into my life and for choosing me among all women to be the one to bring you forth during this lifetime. Your teachings have been so valuable to me. Your love has been my lifesaver.
Loving you from here,
Dr. Rev. Jenine Marie Howry, Ph.D.
**Edited and re-written from March of 2005, copyright Jenine Marie Howry
Life Lessons by Jenine Marie 
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