When I see you, I see many images of myself. Your style and ways are very similar to my own. Sometimes I have to laugh because you do and think some of the very ways I once did around your age.
I was totally fascinated watching you grow inside my sister's womb 19 years ago. The day you were born and I held you for the first time my life was forever changed. You were a rare unique resemblance of beauty that could not be duplicated.
Before you adjoined us here on earth our family was very much divided. We just could not get along. It was so much hatred among each of us to the point I didn’t want anything to do with my family. I pretty much in my mind disowned my family and received the love I seek from outside sources. This all changed the day I knew of you coming into existence. I found a form of healing and that was spirituality. I started praying for healing of this family. Praying that your mother and I would not just be sisters by blood but through love. I started to learn to forgive my parents for the abusive and unstable upbringing. I begin to make mends with them all. It wasn’t an easy process, it took some bumps and bruises but the day you took your first breath here on earth that all changed. Your presence brought us all together.
I watched as my sister loved on you in a way we never experienced through our parents. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Through the love she showed you it started to rub off on the rest of the family. Something as simple as giving each other a hug was a major milestone for us. Sounds unbelievable but if you knew how deep our wounds were you would know these steps were a new chapter towards something great. These small steps were not our cure because many arguments and fights still occurred but that bright bubbly smiling spirit of yours would always help to make mends. When I look back and see where we are now all I can do is smile. They say Angels exists here on earth, well I tend to agree because you are the angel that mended this family back together again.
You not only made me want to be a better me but I made it my business to ensure you never experienced the lifestyle me and your mother did. I committed myself to teaching you about the higher power, to have you grow in an environment that taught about love something me and your mother did not receive in our upbringing. I was willing to spend every penny of my earnings just to ensure you had a much better life than your mother and myself. We all put everything into bringing you up in a loving setting.
You may have given us all some difficult times and sometimes still do, but as you mature all we instilled in you I am seeing it surface as you grow into an official adult woman.I am very proud of you and words could not begin to explain the depth of how proud I am.
I am writing this letter to you for all to see how very special and dear you are to me, my niece. Your existence matters, it started to matter the day you chose your parents and this family to shed your light too. We thank you for choosing us. Our lives will never be the same because of you, Tay. So, whenever a time comes and all you can see is darkness know your are the light through it all.
