"I was a stranger and you took me in"
I finally have the time to write about my foster mom who died on Saturday.
It is with deep sadness that I share about the death of my foster mother.
I first met her in passing at a church event in our neighborhood when I was 13 years old
At 15 years of age, my biological mom had a massive stroke and my father had already passed away when fighting for the US in Vietnam. Being an immigrant, there were no other relatives in the US. A friend who was part of the youth group in which my foster mom helped my foster dad serve as Pastor, told them of my plight and they came to me just as their youngest child was leaving home, opened their hearts and invited me to join their family.
I remember one Sunday when I was still living on my own (before the state told me I had 48 hours to find a place to live or else I would become a ward of the court) (the last Sunday of October of that year) I had forgotten to re-set the clock and arrived at the church an hour early. My foster mom was at the organ practicing the hymns for that morning and we got into a discussion about music, voice and liturgy and formed an immediate bond.
Often during Sundays, my foster mom and I would discuss the liturgy and hymns. We were always on the same wave length. I loved it.
My foster mom modeled a sense of hospitality and graciousness that always impressed me and I continually strive for. She affirmed a sense of high quality sacred music and liturgy and a desire to serve that I loved.
Most of all, at a time in my life, when being at the most difficult of age to be placed as a foster child, she offered support, conversation, guidance, humor, forgiveness and love. Developing a mutual love that she nurtured and providing a second chance for me to have a mom!
She taught me about her heritage and family history while still affirming me to honor my family of orientation and original parents.
She was a Democrat. Not a splashy Democrat, but quiet and steadfast. She was pro Civil Rights, Pro LGBTQ, pro DREAMERS and for social services and mass transportation. She taught me to wed my spiritual inner core, with civic discourse and to vote accordingly.
While being sorrowful. I am so grateful for having been a part of her life, for her being a part of my life and helping to form a part of my personality.
In a personal historical irony, both my mothers died on the same calendar date. Feb 2, 1985 and Feb 2, 2018
I will truly miss her, but to me she represented not only the model of living ones life with in the true Gospel of Christ but also what represents the good and noble in our country!!!
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This a beautiful tribute to to your mom.
