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Warmth and good cheer filled the air,
Even while darkness was
Lurking just around the corner.

Our lives are sometimes just a thin veneer,
Overlaying deeper currents that
Have far reaching consequences.

The beautiful and Vibrant vision my Mother and I created here,
Was an effort on both our parts to head me off from
Delving into years of addiction and self abusive
Behaviors.
![5ywb48.png](https://img.esteem.app/5ywb48.png)

Sadly, we were not successful.
All the effort and love between us couldn’t do
Anything until I had reached my bottom;
By then and I had begun to recover,
Mama was gone from this world.

Our lives are a journey, and all the
Trials, Ugliness and Pain
We’ve gone through are what has
Made us who we are. It
Was necessary for you to be who
You are today.
That is a hard pill to swallow,
But it is true.

Using all your learned lessons, You’re now uniquely equipped
To help others on their own Journeys.
Help them, not do it for them.
Support Them, love them and
Then, when it’s their
Time to triumph;
Celebrate their
Event with
Them.
https://78.media.tumblr.com/d8f8eef9d1511bddf1e8f2c09bd2a2ec/tumblr_ntir42FNOx1uslmuro1_500.gif
## “𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢”
<sup>by</sup>
_Jerry E Smith_
©12/8/19
  <sup>_Image is original, taken by me around 1996_</sup>
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<sup>_**These .gifs were created for me by @coquiunlimited; many thanks**_</sup>
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