Prayers for family strength were heard

Staff columnist

Although I always knew I’d be the grandchild to move away and get my career kicking, I didn’t take into consideration how hard it actually is to be away from my family.

I may not be very dependent on them, but I’ve learned over the years how important family is for strength, healing and love.link Christina Calloway

My family, especially my grandmother, is hurting because my great-aunt died on Monday. People all deal with death in different ways, and though it is saddening that she passed, I see it as a homegoing.

I’m not much of a public crier for one, but hearing my grandmother cry over the phone tore me up inside. It’s hard to hear someone I care about, someone so strong, break down. I had to cry with her even if she couldn’t hear me. It’s affecting my grandmother deeply because it is her last living sibling.

I heal through laughter. When talking to my dad, I told him I was most concerned about her feeling alone now that her sister is gone but he said my grandma’s strength and health speaks to her longevity. I said in my thickest Filipino accent that she’s too stubborn to die anytime soon. We both laughed about it.

I’ll mention one more person with commendable strength — my cousin Valerie. She lost her grandmother and grandfather in the same year yet she’s still able to keep a smile and share all the great memories she had with them. My prayers for strength for my family must have been heard.

Christina Calloway writes for Clovis Media Inc.