Blessed

Maria Elena Macias was five times blessed with daughters. Then a tragic turn, with her husband Humberto passing suddenly, soon after their last child was born. A very sad time of hard opposites, arduous logistics for Maria, and a resolute promise to her husband their lives would continue forward.

Maria and her family did survive and prosper, a small inn they ran together provided steady livelihood, and Maria also had plenty of time with her five children. They couldn't have been more different from each other, these five girls. And, Maria was often just exhausted from that difference. While two daughters were stubborn, another was bossy, the next was cranky, the next, critical, and all were competitive. Her five daughters never stopped arguing with each other! It was always some kind of drama, constant conflict was just their style of interacting. Yet, their mom worried how this would go in the future, after she was gone from them. 

All of this worry was tested with no warning one April morning, when Maria awoke with a horrible realization- she could not move or speak. Then, she lost consciousness. It was a stroke. Waking up soon after in the hospital, fortunately already regaining some body movement, Maria immediately thought of her quarreling daughters, who the nurses quietly mentioned had all waited outside for several hours. Maria's present and future concerns would be vanished in a moment, as they all entered her hospital room- each holding the others' hand, or arm-in-arm, all had clearly been crying. 

Maria couldn't recall ever seeing them all embracing each other so needily. Maria knew then that their future would be fine, as their dear father always said, "Our five beautiful roses."