Conquer

“Love is the brightest star in life’s darkest skies.”

― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Love conquers all. I do not mean the exhilarating, spell-bound sort of love that temporarily intoxicates us. I mean the profound, unconditional, Christ-like sort of charitable love that endures forever. That love conquers all.”

― Richelle E. Goodrich, Being Bold: Quotes, Poetry, & Motivations for Every Day of the Year

“Love is the brightest star in life’s darkest skies.”

― Matshona Dhliwayo

Thursday, 26 November 2020

Today was mundane, normal, busy, and then suddenly very different: I suppose exactly like the clouds in the sky. The mood and shapes of clouds change constantly in front of the bright blue sky, to remind us of the flux of it all …

The call came late afternoon. A worried voice at the other end, but still matter-of-factly, informational. When you are used to working with these things I suppose you learn how to be calm. I am worried, but not particularly, because they take care, and there is a higher hand in charge. My mom taught me that.

The second call came shortly after the first.

Finality is instant. My heart became silent for a while, and then my head took over. After the initial tears the clouds quickly changed their stance and shapes shifted into a different constellation. I could remain calm for the four difficult calls to my siblings that I had to make thereafter. As I looked outside I could see the clouds moving quietly, and I realised that they slowly started settling beautifully into a different place – almost unnoticed. I couldn’t capture it on camera, but those clouds are etched in my heart.

I was sad, but calm, not knowing why. The only thing that I could think of as I spoke to my siblings, the one after the other, is that “Love conquers all”. My beautiful, stylish, sometimes incorrigible mother taught us this. And as I reversed my car out of my garage there it was: the spectacular cloud at the end of another normal, mundane day in our lives. Brightly waiting for me to capture it on film. And I knew what the message in the sky was: this day was filled with love – a love conquering all pain and discomfort and confusion. And I could smile and feel her love and warm hugs and kisses that she so loved to give and receive. I knew she was dancing in the clouds, and my tears were gone. I knew that every bright cloud hereafter would become a reminder that we have to dance and appreciate life, love and the clouds!

RIP my beautiful mother.

“Dance with the clouds.”
― Adrienne Posey