Delivering Love

Today is the 70th birthday of a lady I consider a great friend , family really . She’s the older sister of my bestest forever friend and one of the most uniquely beautiful souls I’ve ever had the joy of knowing .

It depends who you are what you call her .. to some she’s Liz, some she’s Mum , the lucky ones she’s gran. She’s Aunty , sister , friend .. she’s Elizabeth. In my world she’s Wee Betty . A perfectly petite bundle of everything womankind should be and so often fall short .

Betty is first and before anything in this world for her family . She is loved completely by those lucky enough to share her DNA , she’s adored by those whom marriage waved a kind hand to , she’s idolised by her grandchildren and she is a woman that never considers her heart too full to add another soul to her list of loves . It’s like oxygen and family are one and the same to this lady , nothing could ever persuade her that her loved ones should be somehow separate from her . To her this is incomprehensible. If you are hers , then it’s whole and it’s forever .

It may sound trite and greeting card sickly but without question it is true . This is a heart that has known pain and suffering of the cruelest forms . It’s a soul that has fought poverty , grief , isolation and abuse with the same despair as so many sad hearts in this rocky world . It’s a life that decided to “live” rather than be the sum total of her losses and degradations.

In real life, this looks like pain , tears , loneliness , sorrow , mental health struggles , hard work , early mornings and long days . It also looks like easy laughter , dancing in the living room , partying with teenagers and demanding joy from all and every occasion.

Betty is about loving and living HER life . She does not need status or position , wealth or worldly success to be happy . She looks around at her adoring family , her faithful friends and considers herself truly blessed and rich beyond measure .

There is much to learn from such a person .

There is contentment to be found in her methods .

Many will look on envious of her happiness and fooled by the generosity with which she furnishes her life . They will not see what lies beneath . The personal battles of pain and suffering and heartache that had to be fought to win this war of life .

Betty , nobody deserves to celebrate 70years more than you . We all can learn from your fortitude and love. Those who know you have an example to follow that is genuine and without compromise . I’m so honoured to call you a friend . Happy happy birthday my lovely friend …