Aimee
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Our daughter would have been 37 today
This morning, our grandson Criss sent me a text to inform me that he and his brothers wouldn't be joining us for lunch today. They are going to the cemetery to visit their mother Aimee's grave, who was tragically murdered in May.
Today would have been her 37th birthday.
We, My husband and I will not be visitng the grave. In our mind, she is not there. Her spirit has left the body and is resting until, we pray, she will be in that number when "the dead in Christ will rise first." Until then we will continue to care for her sons as our very own and accompany them in their grief with loving affection.
The following is a piece I wrote in 2023 about our Aimee, in memory of our beloved daughter.
Aimee- A Wounded Bird
In 1995, while volunteering at a Children's Home in Guatemala, we would occasionally welcome new children. One of these special children was Aimee. She claimed to be eight years old, though she wasn't certain of her age, but she could read and write. Aimee was an adorable little girl with short, curly hair, and she was very intelligent. Her mother had taught her to read. Her Salvadoran father passed away in a car accident when she was 3. Her Guatemalan mother, of African/Caribbean descent, was murdered by her new stepfather when Aimee was 8. She also had two brothers and a sister. The trauma from her mother's death at the hands of her stepfather led her to run away, which resulted in her being placed in the Children's Home.
Aimee was a friendly, cheerful little girl with a generally great disposition, but she could become very skittish when disciplined. She would cry easily at the thought of punishment. We had to be very careful in that regard with many of the children who had experienced trauma. In Aimee's case, having no father, no mother, and a murderous stepfather left a void in her heart that she still struggles to fill. Imagine how any of these events could impact a small child. Aimee was like a wounded bird, unable to soar toward the light.
In 2003, Aimee joined our small family of two, consisting of Angel and me. Although I couldn't officially adopt her due to the lack of paperwork, the courts granted me custody. In 2004, I left the children's home and began a new ministry with my family in a different part of Guatemala. Aimee excelled in school and was nominated to compete as the school queen. She was also a wonderful big sister to my son, Angel. Life appeared to be going well, but it wasn't entirely so.
You might wonder how to love a wounded bird. It requires love and a great deal of patience. Despite being blessed with a new family, she still carried the pain of her past losses, making her heart hesitant to get close for fear of experiencing loss again. On the outside, she appeared beautiful, strong-willed, friendly, and cheerful, but within, she was a wounded and broken bird.
A few years after graduation from high school, she left home, met a "big" young man named Gerber, married him and became a mother of three boys, Cristopher, Nathan and Gerber, Jr. Their marriage was tumultuous and filled with conflict. Aimee was deeply loved by her husband, but it wasn't enough for her. Despite having her own family, she remained wounded. They parted ways when she was expecting Junior and never reconciled. He moved on, while she faced challenges as a single mother.
After being single for over 40 years and raising my children without a father figure, I was blessed in 2017 to marry a wonderful man of God named Mac. Aimee loves her new dad, and her heart is healing thanks to his presence, unconditional love, and guidance. He emphasizes to her the importance of knowing that she is fearfully and wonderfully made by God and encourages her to become a woman of value. She is starting to realize her worth in God's eyes because she is so cherished by Mac. He speaks the difficult truths while being mindful of the delicate aspects of her heart. Through this honesty, he shows the unconditional love he has for her. Their relationship has also helped to break down the barriers between us as mother and daughter. I am extremely grateful for Mac's love for my daughter, which he shows in such a godly way.
Life goes on!!
As her sons, including myself, Mac, and our son Angel, remember our girl today, we can find joy in our memories. As Christians, Mac and I have experienced sorrow in the losses of our parents, sisters, cousins, and close friends, and we are not lost in our grief over Aimee. We have hope in Christ.
! Thessalonians 4:13
13 But we do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
14 for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.
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