Miriam Webster defines
strength as “the quality or state of being physically strong; the ability to
resist being moved or broken by a force; the power to resist attack”. Well, I hate to tell you, Webster, but you’re
wrong.
The definition of strength is
a wife who loved her husband with every fiber of her being; a wife who was
devoted and dedicated in a way that was truly genuine; a wife who never came to
expect anything from her husband, even though everyone knew he would go to the
moon and back for her. The definition of
strength is a wife who while working part-time always made sure things were
“just so” at home, took care of all of the banking, laundry, ironing, and
cleaning, among other things, knowing that her husband was working so hard to
provide for their family. The definition
of strength is a wife who had big dreams for the life she would make with her husband
and accomplished them all.
The definition of strength is
a mother who attended countless little league and softball games, scouting
events, dance and gymnastics recitals, and mother-son bowling nights; a mother
who taught her children so much just by living and being the kind, gentle,
loving person that she was; a mother who always listened to her children, especially
her daughter, ramble on and on and on about who knows what and always making
them feel like whatever they had to say was the most important thing in the
world. (Having two young children of my
own, I know first hand how difficult this can be at times.) The definition of strength is a mother who
was always there to help in any way she could with advice, a helping hand, or a
shoulder to cry on, from the time her children were born, right up until they
were in their mid-thirties. The definition of strength is a mother who welcomed
the spouses of her children with an open heart and always treated them and
loved them as if they were her own.
The definition of strength is
a Gramma who loved her four little monkeys more than they will ever realize; a
Gramma who played board games and card games with her grandsons and let them
cheat and win; a Gramma who kissed and hugged her grandsons as much and as
often as they would allow; a Gramma who pitched batting practice and blew
bubbles and enjoyed the pool in the backyard before having squeeze pops with
those boys; a Gramma who attended school related and other important events and
was so proud of her grandsons for all they have already learned and
accomplished in their short lives. The
definition of strength is a Gramma whose passion and legacy will live on in the
lives and hearts of those grandsons.
The definition of strength is
a daughter who made her parents so proud of all of her accomplishments in
school, in her career, as a caring and loving wife and mother; a daughter who
while watching her own mother struggle with emphysema, fought harder and harder
to live the life she always wanted; a daughter who took special care of her
father after her mother had passed, always calling to check-in, taking him out
to eat, inviting him over for time with family and having him visit in Fort
Myers, a place that her parents loved so much.
The definition of strength is
a sister who always cared for her three younger brothers in the best way she
knew how; leaving enough food on her own plate to give them a little extra at
meal time; having a unique and special relationship with each of them based on
their own personalities; sharing many family vacations and special times with
them and their own families as adults. The definition of strength is a sister
“in-law” who welcomed every new person into the family with such a sense of
belonging and grace. The definition of
strength is an aunt who always had a beautiful smile, an ear to listen and arms
to hug her nieces and nephews, letting them know that she would always be there
for whatever they might need.
The definition of strength is
a friend who loved spending time with the special people in her life – grabbing
lunch or dinner at a favorite restaurant, going on double dates to PC
basketball games, having couples nights with the girls from the bank, going to
the casino on bonus points days and nights, climbing multiple flights of stairs
to spend time with friends, taking her time and going slowly but never
complaining about a single step; walking the length of the mall and shopping
with her little girl just to get some time as “girls are girls”. The definition of strength is a friend who
always knew when to call and what to say for any situation, regardless of how
much time may have passed. A friend who
never judged but rather accepted people just as they are and loved each friend
in a special way.
The definition of strength is
a woman who always put others needs ahead of her own – holding the door for
perfect strangers; offering up her seat to anyone nearby; taking care of everyone
of her customers at the bank in a way that met the customers needs, not
necessarily the “sales” goals. The
definition of strength is a woman who never wanted to be the center of attention
but who had so much love, class, grace, patience, courage, compassion, and
beauty that she could light up a room with just her smile. The definition of strength is a woman who
never let others know about the fight she was fighting and how hard it was for
her to breathe but who woke everyday, ready to face the day, always 110%
beautifully together, right down to her pink or red finger nails.
The definition of strength is
a woman who never ever complained or pitied herself for having pulmonary hypertension
but rather lived her life as fully as she could, always inspiring her doctors
to work harder to help her because of the beautiful person she was. The
definition of strength is a woman, whose doctors and nurses worked tirelessly,
around the clock, searching for answers because they could feel the love that
her family had for her and from that love knew what an amazing person she
was. The definition of strength is a woman who even
at the very end of her life showed enough fight and determination to allow her
family to get a decent night’s rest knowing they were in for a long few days.
The definition of strength is
Deborah Louise Kavanagh.
I love you, Mom! Thank you for fighting so hard, for so long,
and for having such amazing strength to do it all so beautifully and
effortlessly! Thank you for being my
best friend!
