"When you make a promise to an elder, honor it."
-Emily J. Guerrero
Abuelas* prayers are powerful.
My abuelita Nicolasa impressed her love on my heart forever. One of my earliest childhood memories is sitting at the edge of her bed while she braided my hair. I was looking at a flickering candle on her homemade altar while listening to her soft voice as she said evening prayers for our family. I felt protected by her prayers and blessings. She would quietly encourage me to be aware, stay cautious, do what's right and to always remember I am loved.
She taught me to care for and talk to her (animalitos) little animals. She had bright colored canaries, pretty parakeets, and two very brave, and ever trembling, chihuahua dogs. She also taught me how to care for and talk to plants and flowers. I remember making my first tortillas in her kitchen. She infused confidence through her ever present love.
Many years later, with tears in her eyes, she entrusted me with a secret. I found myself making two promises that day. One, I would not share her life secret until after she died. Two, I would go to Mexico to see the pink flowering trees whose petals would shower me and cover the streets. We were living in Chicago, the windy city of tall shady trees and cold winters . I couldn't imagine it to be true, that trees would shower me in flowers petals. Yet she assured me it was true.
I was trustworthy and kept both promises. A decade or so later I found myself explaining her challenging early life choices to our family. Two decades later I visited Cuernavaca, Mexico, the city of eternal spring, during a very difficult time in my life. One morning as I was walking alone on a cobblestone street, a gentle and very warm breeze swirled around me. I looked up and suddenly I was being showered in pink flower petals! Then the street became a stream of pink flower petals at my feet. My eyes filled with tears as my long ago promise was remembered. A rush of love overwhelmed me. I felt a strong sense of certainty that my abuela Nicolasa was there with me, and I was surrounded by her love.
Promises to elders should never be taken lightly because they carry power.
*Abuela, Abuelita = Grandmother
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