This is a quote from my new hire orientation. Which I am now finding applies so aptly to a relationship I have with a young girl in the Dominican Republic. When she was 5 years old I commited to loving her and mentoring her through life. Last year I was privilaged to spen 1 year with her, to sit through heart ache, to embrace the surprise of pregnancy and to hold my godson when he was born on April 1 st. It has been a wonderful and at times heart breaking ride that I would not change for anything!
It is sometimes a death to myself loving this young woman. I can see my selfishness and the pain on her face or in her voice when I disapoint. It is sometimes in her best interest that I disapoint but the pain she feels never makes it easier. Oh but my discouragement when I simply fail. When I give my word and fail to come through. It is our love for one another that gives us the grace to remain.
Three weeks ago her father was murdered and he was the only wage earner for the family. I am now stateside and longed to sit and mourn with the family. Traditionaly in the Dominican there is about a 10 day mourning period where friends and family gather. My heart was filled with grief and if there had been any way I would have gone just to be with Yuli for this tradgedy. We now share the loss of our fathers, 2 days apart when we both we 19. This is a mystery to me, how eerie it is to have our grief aniversaries be so very close together, but I am grateful that I can from the bottom of my heart tell her I am so very sorry and that I know she will raise above this.
With out knowing where our path would lead we have commited to each other. Who have you commited to?
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