I am really impressed by the strength found in the Mexican family unit. Federico and I visited his grandmother. Her name is Artemisa and she is 96 years old. Artemisa. Isn't that a beautiful name. She had a stroke recently and is confined to a wheel chair after a fall two weeks, ago. She very nearly broke her back. We found her on a street corner in her wheel chair, being pushed by her daughter, Norma. They were returning from the dollar store.
Words can not describe the love that shined from Artemisa's eyes when she saw, Federico. They hugged and kissed. Artemisa said, 'Now I am ready to die." Mr. Fred loaded her in the front seat of the car and we drove her home. She was alert and so excited to have Mr. Fred help her. In her house she pointed out the pictures on her wall for me to see the people of her legacy. She couldn't speak well and said little, but you could read the pleasure in her eyes as she viewed the pictures of her family.
I sat on the couch next to Artemisa as Federico leaned over to reach her ear as she sat in the wheel chair. Federico was whispering sweet words of love that included a prayer to God. I can only imagine the sweetness Artemisa heard in Federico's words. There was a passion in the room that wars are fought over. There was a feeling that the world could be going to hell, but for the moment, in this small room, everything was right.
God smiled. God saw a people made in his image. God saw the sweetness of His creations being displayed in love that crossed generations. Federico explained briefly about his friend that had come with him to see Artemisa. She said, "I was a good person and blessed". She was right. She blessed me.
As we left, Artemis gave the sign of the cross twice across her heart. Federico said she was blessing our trip as we went to share God with other people. Artemis is a precious person. It is beautiful to see someone with her heart exposed, not caring what others think...
Is there an Artemis in your life? You are blessed.
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