Today is my younger sister’s birthday. Linda’s birth created the bond of sisterhood that has sustained and nurtured us, and later included our baby sister Debbie, throughout our lives. We all have our own families and our circles of friends…and yet my sisters and I have a “got your back and I’ll walk with you through it” kind of love for each other that is fierce.
I looked up my sister’s birth name, Lindel, a name she shared with my paternal grandmother.
“Lindel, you are a wonderful person, generous and loyal. You tend to over-think things and sometimes worry too much, but you are thoughtful and extremely loving. An original thinker, you are always coming up with brilliant new ideas which others don’t quite understand. Your thoughts can appear to be vague, but this is a misconception. You are usually just off on another plane of thought. You are highly intelligent and articulate, with a gift for communication. You have an intuitive nature and the arts, drama or sciences may draw your interests.
You want to enjoy life, have fun, go places and do things. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive fairness and honesty from other people. Look to your own personal growth, and live a big beautiful life, and others will be drawn to you.”
I see the truth in these words about Linda. She is wonderful, loyal and generous, with what she has and with her time. She cares about others, human kind and animal kind. And she is one of the most loving people that I know.
Just watch her with her loved ones…her large extended family and her children and grandchildren. She is a supportive and giving mom to her sons Scott and Eric, and her daughter-in-law Nicole, and a wildly fun Gigi to her grandson and three granddaughters.
I appreciate Linda’s ability to think big and come up with fresh ideas. She is a free thinker and loves a lively discussion. An encourager and an includer, my sister excels at walking alongside another, offering a listening ear or a sincere hug.
I especially love the very last sentence in the description about Linda, urging attention to personal growth.
Linda has just experienced her biggest year yet of personal growth. It is her story to share. However, I am so intensely proud of my sister. She has learned about her heart this past year, and how to focus on what she can offer. Linda found hope in pain and uncovered her own self worth, discovering that the only person she can change is herself.
From this place of strength and tenderness, Linda is exploring who she is. It will be an exciting journey for her. And one that will indeed draw others to her.
Thank you Linda, for being my cheerleader, my confidante and my fellow traveler. I am so looking forward to journeying with you to Ireland, Scotland and England this fall, and through life. Thank you for displaying hope and courage in challenging circumstances and knowing how to have fun. Thank you for sharing your heart and your love so freely.
Happiest of birthdays Linda, and many more as you live your big, beautiful life. I love you!
She is all that and more. Through everything, she has such a loving heart and tenderness about her. Love you much, Linda and so looking forward to our trip this faff.