Having kindness and vulnerability to show love for everyone is literally for the exalted. My mother was exalted. She never got mired in staying down or being negative. She seemed to have a special lens to sift through the fog of disdain, to find the light, to ferret out the good, to seek the teaching, and to find a way to remain uplifted.
How did she do that? With love.
How did she develop such love? She was enveloped in it and had amazing examples.
Her parents were the kindest and most generous souls. They gave more than they ever got and wanted to have an impact on others. They were devout so she, in turn, was too. My father was her rock and her children revered her. She read spiritual passages to understand a higher purpose. She absorbed it all and, as a result, gravitated toward the goodness in all things. She was a student of life, possessed incredible judgment and had an innate understanding of people. She listened more than she spoke. And, she always left people feeling happier and somehow made their worries go away.
She possessed great faith and hope in something better and a confidence that that things would improve. Circumstances change. People change. And, we need change agents—those who rise above it all, make a difference, stay the course and see through a longer term lens. She was the epitome of love. Pure love. Whenever I would complain about something, she never allowed me to wallow in it. She would not tolerate unkind thoughts. Instead of getting upset she would sometimes laugh, sometimes reflect, but always found the higher teaching in even unkind actions. She experienced life with more optimism and wisdom than the regular person (like me) could. With everything bad, she always said love was the answer. If someone did something not nice, she told me to love them. If something bad happened, she reminded me to remain upbeat and keep love in my heart. She had a level of compassion and understanding that changed people and made them believe something better was in store. She conveyed and embodied love with every word and every act.
She was gentle in the face of ferocity.
She was patient when it all felt rushed.
She was empathetic when others were unaccepting.
She had a kindness that gave you comfort.
She was simply amazing and I strive to be more like her. And, perhaps hearing about her she will inspire you too.
