He was my Mountain | He is STILL my yardstick

Who was he?.. my father... And the 1st love of my life...
He had such A strong resolve And virility... he was my Mountain... he had A solid seat of consciousness... And A sound awareness of self... he is my Yardstick

My mother had a tragic end to her life!.. ... ...
Among family And friends - she left behind A husband {my dad} two teenage children {my older brother & sister}And three small children {my twin my baby brother And me}

I've learned there's nothing like the love A mother has for her child!.. I've also learned No child should grow up without their mother!

My father raised us - primarily - as a widower... he raised us with A very firm hand And pretty strict family values And guidelines... I've learned my father played A dominant role in my life... he was as powerful, to me, as President Obama is to Malia, Sasha, And our nation... I've learned my stance... the decisions I've made And my positioning in the world came from my father!

I've come to realize without the nurturing the care And the love I received from my mother, the few years she was with us, I would not fully understand how I should nurture care And love my children.

I dare not stand in judgement of others!.. I've learned there is a 'bend' in every road at some point of the journey!

I've learned that no one knows my story... no one has taken my journey... And no one can tell my story better than I can... but ONE of the most important things I've learned, And I pass on to my children, is :: um :: because I don't know your story... And because I know you Are the only one who can tell it... I dare not stand in judgement of your decisions.

prayer & well wishes will fill an open mouth... And A mouthful prayer & well wishes is much more nourishing than a mouthful of judgement.

I've come to realize my mother laid the foundation of love... And in her absence my father cultivated it... MORE importantly I realize my socialization {my personal identity - my very on do's & don'ts} THOUGH they were not established by my dad - they were definitely secured - by him. He is still my yardstick And every measure of a man.

Thankful to my Creator!.. he decided who my mom & dad would be before I was even conceived. Poodle