You Are A Blessing To Us

Last week Gloria turned 34 years old and she is sometimes depressed with her life.

When Gloria was a girl, she pictured her life with a great deal more purpose and satisfaction. She pictured a Prince Charming, who would love and respect her and as a couple, they would have two beautiful children and a lovely home.

Instead, Gloria has had several "relationships" and more dates than she could count, with one man after the next unable to live up to her expectations. Now there is no-one special in her life and she can hear her body clock ticking.

As a girl, Gloria saw herself as an attorney, defending people in the courtroom, who had been falsely accused of crimes. But at 34, she works in the accounting department of a giant corporation.

At this stage of her life, deeply frustrated, Gloria sat down with her mother with whom she had always been close, and poured out her heart.

"Oh Sweetie," her mother replied, "You have always been a blessing to us."

"I was just 17 years old when I had you with my boyfriend, and I had no idea how to be a mother. And my boyfriend soon disappeared.

"But I loved you from the start and learned by trial and error how to be a mother to you. And my mother pitched in as well, often babysitting you while I was at work.

"As for finding Prince Charming, there is no such thing. There are only imperfect people like you and me and everyone else.

"When I matured, I found the right man for me by deciding 'must haves' and 'must not haves' in a man. You can do the same thing and when you do, you'll discover how to quickly eliminate so many of the men who will never be right for you, and not waste your time on them.

"Soon Mr. Right will appear in your life and you will know it. So will he.

"As for becoming a defense attorney, there is nothing stopping you but you. You are the first ever college graduate in our family and you could begin to attend law school part-time on your way to becoming that 'defender of the people.' And your compassion and drive will impress your Mr. Right, not intimidate him.

"Sweetheart, you have always had the power to exercise control in your life. So don't waste another day. Vow to yourself to take the necessary steps, one small step after the next, and before you know it, those small steps will take you down a fulfilling path, the one you always dreamed of."

Dick