I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so much love. These five people have shaped my heart, inspired my journey, and shown me what love really looks like. Enjoy this glimpse into my life.
1. Jesus
He carried me through everything that should have taken me out: alcoholism, broken relationships, rejection, and seasons when I didn’t even recognize myself. When I was weak, He became my strength. When people turned their backs on me, He reminded me that I was never alone. He didn’t just rescue me, He rebuilt me with purpose, with dignity, and with love that never fails. Every blessing I walk in today, from my marriage to my career to my education to my peace, flows from His hand. I admire Him because He is not just my Savior in word but my Deliverer in action. My life is proof that His grace is greater than my past and His power is stronger than anything that tried to hold me down.
2. Marcus
Marcus is my husband of 12 years, and his love has been nothing short of steadfast and courageous. He let go of all reservations and judgments to be with me, choosing our bond over the misunderstandings of others, even when his parents could not fully see what he saw in me. He stood by my side through the darkest chapters of my life, including my battle with addiction, when it would have been easier to walk away. Instead, he chose to believe in the woman I promised I would become. When I told him I would get my life together, he trusted my word, and that trust gave me strength to follow through. His faith in me has been one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me, because it reminded me that I was worthy of both love and a future. Today, as we walk together in a marriage rooted in humility, faith, and grace, I see how Marcus’s unwavering support helped shape not only the life we share but also the woman I have become.
3. Mom
My mother inspires me more than words can fully capture. She fostered over 60 children, most of whom were African American, in a Buffalo, New York that was even more segregated than it is today. I was only three weeks old when the social worker brought me to her door in 1988, and from that moment she became my safe place. She has fought for me, loved me without condition, and given me the very best life she could. Through her example, I learned how to love deeply, how to hope when things seem impossible, how to pray with faith, and how to live as a giver. My mother’s strength, her open heart, and her willingness to pour into so many children, including me, is a legacy that I will always carry. She will forever be one of the greatest inspirations of my life.
4. Dad
My dad inspires me because he walked hand in hand with my mother in raising a family that was built on love, sacrifice, and faith. Together they cared for six adopted children, three biological children, and eventually multiple grandchildren, and he never wavered in his role as a provider and protector. They adopted me when they were 50 years old, and from that point on, I never knew a day when my dad was not working hard or spending time with us. His consistency, his quiet strength, and his dedication to his family gave us a life that we could not have even asked for. He showed me what it means to lead with love and to provide not just material needs but stability, joy, and presence. My dad’s life has been a living example of devotion, and his impact will always remain a part of who I am.
5. “Mom Bennett”
My mother-in-law, Mom Bennett, inspires me deeply. She helped raise my husband alongside his father, God rest his soul, and did so with grace, wisdom, and unwavering love. As a devoted school teacher, she shaped countless young minds, instilling in them knowledge, discipline, and confidence. As a faithful Deaconess in the church, she poured her heart into the spiritual growth and care of her community, always leading with humility and compassion. Every life she touched still carries gratitude for having had the chance to be impacted by her presence, her guidance, and her example. She taught not just through words, but through her actions, showing what it means to love, serve, and leave a lasting legacy. Mom Bennett’s life reminds me that the love we give and the faith we live out ripple far beyond what we can ever see.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” With the love and example of my mom, dad, Mom Bennett, Marcus, and Jesus, I’m reminded daily to decide to live with faith, courage, and purpose.