All Roads Lead to Love

While many of you were planning fireworks displays or wondering how to eat all the hot dogs you could; I was reuniting with a cousin I had not seen in over 30 years.  Jimmy and I spent the first few years of our lives in each other’s company – playing and creating memories that still bring both laughter and tears.  After his family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, we saw each other annually and sometimes two or more times a year – we were part of the formative experience of family and of love beyond distance.

As Life would have it, we went in different directions.  He ended up raising his family in the Atlanta area and I went as far west as possible state side and stayed there.  Snippets of where our lives were going were shared but we mostly stopped being in touch when he hit 22 and married.  Of course, I thought of him over the years – and stayed in touch with his mother (my aunt) and his beloved sister who was more like a big sister than a cousin.  Even those relationships appeared to end over time – the other great change agent….distance and time.

In the last two years we have had some phone time provoked sadly by the death of his sister, my sister and now my husband.  This last loss provoked him to suggest a visit  I admit I was a tad nervous- would we have anything in common – what would we talk about for all that time- would he like his cousin after all these years.

From the moment he got out of the rental car until the time he re-entered it to hit the airport – I knew without a shadow of a doubt, that the Love we experienced as children hadn’t gone anywhere.  Hearing him laugh and tease me had the same quality of joy and gratefulness that I remembered from so long ago.

We found catching up to contain many things – certainly the journey of his wonderful family was included and differences in how we see things and what our experiences have been in the journey through our lives.  Here is what hadn’t changed – Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Gratefulness.  All of that and more were shared in those days of endless talking.

What did I conclude from this – well for me, you can go as far away as you think will take you out of your “past” but no matter how far away you go – all roads lead to Love.  You can have differences and perhaps even an issue or two, but your heart will fly open when you see how much has never changed – no exceptions.  I know absolutely that wherever you are sitting right now – whomever you may have lost touch with or chosen to leave behind – check your heart for a minute and you will find the eternal Love that never leaves.  It wasn’t placed there by you – and you cannot remove it.

I encourage you to reach out this week – get in touch with someone you miss – be fearless and allow the truth to flow through you. And if you have hurt feelings or something has occurred that has wounded you;  I recommend you read Life Finds A Way by my dear friend Cynthia Ambriz, for finding your way to this Love I am mentioning.  And if no one comes to mind, stop for a moment when you see a stranger on the street and open your heart to that person in whatever way strikes you – a smile – a greeting – a kindness.

Let the Love that you are shine and trust the rest.

Thank you Jimmy – for all you are and always have been.  I Love you,