January 2018 – Frankie

Frankie married her best friend in October of 2016. As a matter of fact, she and George Raymond, or Ray as she calls him, had known each other for 18 years. At the time they married, they were raising three children under the age of fourteen. They were both in their early thirties. In addition, Frankie had been caring for her father after a life-altering diagnosis and he had moved into their home. To say it was a full house is an understatement. Then the news came that the couple was expecting. It was happy news.

Since Ray was a Head Deacon at their church, it was a normal weeknight of Bible study, putting away tables and chairs and cleaning up after group when the couple finally got home. Frankie found herself meeting up with a friend for a late meal and when she got home, Ray was already in the bed fast asleep. As she crawled in next to him, he reached out his arms to embrace her with a heartfelt “I love you, girl.” She returned the sentiment and within no time, something went wrong. Doctors later told her that Ray had suffered from a brain aneurysm and there was nothing that could have been done to save him.

When you meet Frankie, you find yourself in awe. You wonder how someone can be so strong. You wonder if she is okay. You want to do something to support her, to show her love, to care for her. You don’t know if she really needs it, but you are drawn to her. Truth is…she is beautiful and caring. She is an incredible daughter, caring for her father, Mr. Abraham, and a wonderful mom – to all five kids – yeah, she ended up being pregnant with two perfect twin boys. And when you ask her what courage means, she kind of curls into herself because she doesn’t see herself as courageous. But when you sit long enough and wait for her to answer, she smiles that beautiful smile and simply says, “I guess courage to me is finding the strength that you didn’t know you ever had.”