A second chance …
May 23, 2011 by Marguerite Orane
Filed under Featured Posts, Love
One day last October, as I “happened” to be clearing the Inbox of my old Jamaican e-mail address, I discovered an e-mail that read:
“This is Lisa. I’ve been trying to find you and I’m so happy to have come across your blog and then I searched for your email. I hope this is still it! It seems like you are into some fascinating things and I would love to speak with you!”
Lisa is my goddaughter. Her mother June, my dear friend and heart-sister, died when Lisa was 10 years old. Lisa, her dad, younger sister and brother lived in Ohio. I lived in Jamaica. June had been the glue that held us together. When June left, so did our active connection.
I last saw Lisa 18 years ago when she and her family visited Jamaica. That visit is stamped in everyone’s mind, as I was in the midst of labour and gave birth to my daughter 5 hours after the visit! (Lisa’s father who is a doctor kept urging me to go to the hospital, even as I was entertaining them in between contractions!)
Then …. nothing. I often thought of Lisa. I made some very fleeting attempts to connect with her and her dad. I received occasional news of their progress whenever I happened to meet her dad’s sister or stepmother in the supermarket. So I knew they were OK. But I missed them.
And I felt guilty. For when I accepted June’s invitation to be Lisa’s godmother, it was with the understanding that should anything happen to her, I was to step in. And I did not. I felt I had failed June. The only thing that comforted me was the knowing that June had been such a loving, dear soul that she would surely forgive me.
When I received Lisa’s e-mail, I exploded with joy! When I spoke to Lisa, she told me she was getting married and since her mom wouldn’t be at the wedding, she wanted her godmother to be there! A second chance! Lisa’s wedding was this past weekend. Nothing, not even my son’s 16th birthday, which was the same day, would have kept me away.
I have been fortunate to have innumerable happy moments in my life. There are many that I classify as being deliriously happy. And there are those special ones that are so infused with pure love and ecstatic joy that they are magical. The day I received Lisa’s e-mail was one. Her wedding was another.
The love was palpable and real. Her dad, her stepmother, her sister, her brother, her husband – all enveloped in this wonderful moment of love. The past was just that – the past. Gone. And the wedding was perfect. 18 years seemed like 18 moments. We laid a foundation for a second chance at keeping in touch, supporting and being there for each other.
With love, there is always another chance. I am seizing this second chance and will be there for Lisa, her husband and the children to come. I will be there for her sisters, her brother, her dad and stepmother. And mostly I will be there to honour the sacred trust that June placed in me 30 years ago.
Today, is there anyone with whom you would like a second chance? Reach out to them with love, as Lisa did to me.
Wow! Very touching and inspiring post. I am happy that Lisa got in touch with you just in time so that you could fulfill her wish to have her Godmother step in – in her Mother’s absence. Second chances like these are rare.
What Joy! This made my heart sing. xo
Absolutely beautiful!!
My heart has been singing all weekend!
Stephanie – so true – second chances are too rare – but we can make second chances happen simply by being in a place of love
Thanks Mahalia
Dear Maggie thank you for sharing. This is truly inspirational. It is all a testament to the power if the social media tools for bringing and keeping us together. Keep up the great work. Both what you do and your gift of gab/writing. We love you.
Thanks for the encouragement Nigel! Happy this post is really reaching people – we must change the world one relationship at a time, knowing that it is never too late to forgive and to heal
This is beautiful Marguerite. How blessed you are to have that second chance that we all so richly and lovingly deserve. I’m so happy for you, Lisa and her family.
Goosebumps as I read on. An amazing story and you have put a beautiful spin on it. Well said, Marguerite. Thanks for sharing. Now, everyone is Free and Laughing!
My friend that I just reconnected with in Jamaica after 34 years sent me this story to show that 2nd chances happens to others besides us! I had always wondered where she was life… we had attended the same primary & high schools in Jamaica. I migrated to the US and we lost contact. I would ask anyone I saw from Jamaica if they knew where she was. On day I was looking through some pictures on facebook of friends from our high school and there she was!
I just spent 5 of the best days of my life with her in Jamaica… I got home this morning! She is the most wonderful human being I know… her spirit is in tact! the person I envisioned her to be and more…
Thanks for sharing your story! 2nd chances exist and we love it!
Thanks Camille! I consider myself very, very blessed
Dear Pauline – what a wonderful story! I am so happy for you. Yes, second chances exist, and we can make them happen too! By the way, don’t we must LOVE Facebook? I have reunited with so many people because of it. Hope you and your friend have many more wonderful moments together!
Blessings
Marguerite
Love brings healing…and so the cycle continues…Marguerite, you are indeed blessed. I am on my journey to peace and the happiness I know I deserve. Thank God for sending you at just the right time, so I too, can have a second chance at making ME right…and yes, wi haffi love Facebook, because it’s where I discovered: ‘Free and Laughing…’
Much love.
Oh Gabrielle – thank you SO much for your sweet words. We are all on the journey ….. happy to be travelling beside you if even only for awhile
All love and blessings to you
Marguerite
Tears. This was very moving! Thanks for sharing. I too have a Godson and I am not nearly so far away but I know the feelings of guilt because I haven’t been there as much as is expected. Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks Lecia-Gaye. I hope you will be inspired to get closer to your godson. My goddaughter described this whole experience as “healing”. And that’s exactly what it is