ME Ability!

 

 

(from L-R) Evonn, me, and Stephanie.  Photo: Stephanie Berry

One day I looked around and realized I was no longer the carefree, vibrant person I used to be. I was not stronger in limbs, not adept at maneuvering a grocery cart, or even great at walking onto a curb, BUT, I was good at being the best ME I could be!  I remember telling you all how I changed overnight from a young healthy teenager to a person with a disability.  Yes, it made me view life differently but not in a way that discouraged me or made me scream and yell at my God. My journey made me, Sherri Lynne, a country woman who faced death more times that I would have liked, more humble, more understanding.

 

You see, growing up, I was touched by the wholesomeness of our country living. The cornfields were my playgrounds and the pine-scented woods my refuge. I have even tasted the rich dirt of my heritage for nourishment and proudly laid claim to it.

I recalled that throughout my evolution to Sherri, so many people surrounded me and propelled me each day to face my opportunities, to offer me… a grandchild of Prezzie Adam Green, the same love they give to their own. My wonderful pastor and his wife, Rev Theron, and Janice, they are family but they nurture my soul as well. My cousin Malinda who feeds me the most delicious, scrumptious, lick every morsel bite of food, and my cousin Booker Tee who is the “man” around the house now that my dear Uncle Ivory is ill, and my goddaughter Arnell, they contribute to my ME Ability.  We all have these types of champions in our lives, let them know!  Hi Melvin, Marsheila, Tyrone, Mrs. Gore, Melanie, Basheila, Betty, Stephanie (My Moo-Cow) and Evonn!! So much more to add to this list, including my wonderful followers.

Yes, life is too short, taken away in seconds, yet the after-effects are felt by the living until they are no more.  I am thinking of my sweet cousin Annette Green, whom we recently lost, and I see her laughing with me in church a few Sundays ago, now our sanctuary is little less without her. Every person we lose takes something with them that we love to cling to, however, their loss helps create our ME Ability.

Today is the three year anniversary of my mama’s passing. It’s nearly Christmas. Yes, it’s hard sometimes but my family and I we just think of all the funny and endearing acts of love mama did for us, and we endure through tears, breaths held in sharp memory, and thank God for the amazing ability to see our past in our minds. That is where she and all our loved ones live now. We have the capacity to hold far more, our horizons can be limitless if we slow down and embrace our life-gifts. Husbands, wives, children, friends, pets, passions, mostly anything that conjures a warmness to your hearts. Live for that!

With closed eyes in my living room that holds echoes of mama’s voice, my daddy’s laughter, and my brother’s heart I accept what God allows to remain and that is my beautiful crazy batch of sisters, brother, brother-in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and my godchildren.  My ME Ability team, they give me the ability to push, to pray, to love, to survive and to dare hope that one day I can give them back every ounce of passion they pour into me.

Please share your heart with those who build your ME Ability, tell them why and spread this love-wisdom everywhere. It only takes a little to do the incredible.

My love and Merry Christmas,

Sherri Lynne from Sandridge Road