How Powerful Love Can Be

I believe in the power of love and forgiveness. My belief in these things became stronger and more vivid because of one person, my grandmother Queen. A little over two years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It crushed the majority of my family, but not me. The pain that everyone else felt from hearing the news is one that I did not feel. At no point in my life had she and I ever been close or even held a five minute conversation. I had always felt detached from her because of incidents in the past I dealt with as a child.

As odd as it was, this brought the family closer together. She and I began to build slowly but surely a relationship that would grow into a love I could never imagine. She and I became closer at heart. Our relationship grew at an unbelievable pace and exceeded any relationship that I’d ever had. However, I couldn’t help but notice that the closer we became the sicker she became. Watching her deteriorate at an unhurriedly rate nearly ripped my heart out of my chest. Seeing her in pain is what hurt the most. I would never want to see someone I love so much hurt so badly. If I could have taken the pain for her I would have.

As the days grew longer it became clear what was going to happen. All I prayed for was for her pain to come to a halt and for her to finally be at peace; my prayers were answered. On the evening of May 5, 2010 the call I had been dreading was received. Though it tore me apart I was able to press on, reminiscing about to better times we shared together before tragedy hit. She proved to me that in the end love really does conquer all, even when it’s avoided. She undoubtedly opened her arms to me and a fell into them without hesitation. The moment I fell into her arms, I forgave her. Something inside told me that it was okay to forgive, that it was okay to love; and so I did. My belief in the power of faith, love, and forgiveness is all because of her.