Glow Of Gratitude 

A young 8 year old girl was walking home when she noticed a hummingbird laying on the sidewalk. She bent down and saw it was barely breathing. Panic ran through her and she ran home to get her mom. They both returned and her mother quickly scooped up the little guy and they ran home with him cupped safely in her mothers hands. Her mother mixed warm water and sugar until it dissolved and poured the mixture into a shallow bowl. She placed the hummingbirds beak into the mixture and they could see him sipping. In a few minutes the little guy was upright sitting in the little girl's hand. With gentle stokes the little girl rubber his back and they exchanged glances. It felt like they were exchanging words without a word.

Her mother could tell that he was ready to take flight and they stepped out on the back deck. The little girl begged to keep him and her mother replied that he needed to be free to fly, but that the friendship that they had would last a lifetime. The little girl had saved his life.

It was 2014 and the little girl was growing up, her mother, elderly and not in the best of health. She had several health scares over the last few years and just recently got out of the hospital. Her daughter had come home to be with her as this last visit to the ER was a rough one. By this time her mother was living with her niece and in the best care she could ever ask for. Her mother wanted to prepare her final chapter while her daughter was there. It was a hard conversation to have, lots of tears and laughter as they recall many beautiful stories. The daughter recalled the hummingbird story and asked her mother if she could remember, she said, 'I think about that day often'.

As they wrapped up all the details her daughter asked "if when the time comes and you leave, can you try and come visit me often so I know you're around? Her mother replied yes, I will come as a hummingbird. Her mother went home a few months after that day. Since then every time she sees a hummingbird she smiles and a deep, warm feeling comes over her and her heart fills with such love.

It's been two years since my mother pasted away and I was reminded the other day that she is around. I was giving a talk to a group of young ladies and just as I started the conversation two hummingbirds appeared over my head. I held back the tears as I could once again feel the enormous love and warmth surround me.

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbirds delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.

The memories you create today will last a lifetime... and the timing will be perfect when you recall them, it will be the glow of gratitude.

Love and Light,

Taylor