Restored Relationship

Today I attended a surprise birthday party for my dad's 70th birthday. It was wonderful and everyone had a great time. We worried my dad would not be happy because he just does not like things like that, though I think it's because he's never had one. I believed he enjoyed it and was even touched by it. However, I think the biggest and maybe even the best surprise he received was that I was standing right next to my aunt when he walked in.

My aunt and I had a falling out 8 years ago. Who's to say who was right or who was wrong. It just doesn't matter anymore. Time is too precious and family is something to cherish, not hold resentments towards. There will come a time when we look back on our lives and our hearts will be saddened for not taking the time to restore our broken relationships, especially when we had the opportunity to do so. Today was my day to do so. We faced each other and hugged and that is all it took. It was wonderful.


Over the years, I have often thought about what had happened between us and wished things could be different. Stubbornness (on my part as I cannot speak for her) kept me from talking to her and asking, "Where did we go wrong and how can we repair our relationship?" At one time in my life, she was my sole emotional supporter, my cheerleader and my confidant. We would often talk on the phone and share what was happening in our lives.

Of all the memories I have of my aunt, there is one that I hold so dear to my heart and I don't know if I ever really told her how much it meant to me. It was a few months after I had separated from my husband and my children were 6 and 2 years old. The separation had left me emotionally and financially drained. It was Christmas time and I was doing my best to avoid celebrating it. I had no money to buy gifts for my children or a tree. When I told my aunt that I would not be celebrating Christmas, she told me, in a nut shell, that was not an option.

That weekend, she took me shopping and purchased gifts for my little ones so they would have something under the Christmas tree. My daughter was blessed with an Easy Bake Oven and my son, some Power Ranger toy he wanted. She purchased some other small gifts and even stocking stuffers.  A very close friend of mine and her teenage children, came to my house with a tree, lights and decorations and set it all up. I cried several nights thinking of how loving and wonderful my family and friends were (even though I was still not in the Christmas mood). They lifted me up in a time when I was so down. Truly, my children would have not had a Christmas that year if it had not been for them. I have never forgotten what my aunt did for me that year. It comes to my mind every year at Christmas time. The story has been told often.

We have not seen each other in 8 years and today was a time for restoration and healing for me. Though we did not get a chance to talk alone, as we would have liked, I hope she feels the same. My heart is happy and hopeful for a new beginning.