Describe a family member.
Some people come into your life by chance. Others, by choice. My mom did both. She didn’t just give me life; she chose to bring me into hers. When I think about who has shaped me most deeply, it’s not only because of her kindness or compassion, but because her heart made room for a child who wasn’t originally hers, and then loved me as if I’d been hers all along.
Her story isn’t just about motherhood; it’s about divine timing, courage, and grace that walked on two feet. As Proverbs 31:26 says, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” My mom lived that verse without ever quoting it.
A Life of Grace and Grit
Before she became my mother, she was already a woman of substance. She grew up in a well-off household in the Philippines, a family with Spanish and Chinese roots that owned a horse carriage business back in the 1920s and 30s. They weren’t royalty, but they lived with dignity and polish. My mom grew up surrounded by beauty and order, yet she never let privilege harden her heart.
She went on to become a dentist, a career that perfectly matched her precision and compassion. I remember hearing stories of her traveling to small provinces, bringing dental care to people who could never afford it. She’d pack her supplies and head off without complaint, sometimes staying overnight just to finish treating everyone. She didn’t just fix teeth; she restored dignity.
Her social life was legendary. My mom could walk into a room full of strangers and walk out with five new best friends. People often mistook her poise for pride, but the truth was the opposite. Underneath her polished exterior was a warm, approachable soul who never met a stranger. She was what Proverbs 11:25 describes: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
The Day Love Chose Me
When my mom was in her fifties, she employed a woman to help around the house. That woman became pregnant, and when asked what she planned to do with the baby, she replied she would give the baby to my mom. That baby was me.
Imagine the shock, a woman in midlife, already raising three children, suddenly asked to raise one more who wasn’t biologically hers. But after a family meeting and a short season of prayer and paperwork, I officially became her daughter. My life began with her “yes.”
As I grew up, my mom became my safe place. I remember curling up beside her, listening to her stories and laughter, feeling the rhythm of her breathing as comfort. She had a quiet humor, one that sparkled without effort. Later, as I became an adult, I began to see not just her strength, but her humanity, the worries, the weariness, the prayers whispered behind closed doors. Like 1 Corinthians 13:7 reminds us, “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” That was my mom in every way.
Soul Insights
1. Love Isn’t Just Biological, It’s Spiritual.
My mom taught me that love transcends DNA. What matters most isn’t who gave birth to you, but who chose to nurture your soul. Adoption, in her case, was more than a legal act; it was a divine appointment. Her choice mirrored the way God adopts us into His family, not because we deserve it, but because He delights in calling us His own.
2. Compassion Is a Legacy.
Her life proved that compassion ripples outward. The way she cared for others, whether patients in remote towns or friends in need, left a trail of kindness that continues to inspire me. It reminds me of Mother Teresa’s words: “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” My mom fed souls with her kindness, and that legacy will never fade.
3. Faith Anchors the Heart.
My mom’s devotion was steady. Whether she attended Sunday Mass or a Saturday service, she always found her way to God. Her constancy reminds me that faith isn’t a performance; it’s presence. When I lose focus, I often picture her clasped hands and peaceful face as she prayed. As Thomas Merton once wrote, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.” My mom lived that kind of faith.
4. Joy Is a Choice, Not a Circumstance.
She had every reason to complain, raising kids, managing a career, navigating loss, but she chose laughter. Even in her later years, she found humor in the smallest things. She reminded me that joy doesn’t require perfect conditions, only a willing heart. As Maya Angelou said, “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh.” My mom’s laughter was proof that she trusted life itself.
5. Love Leaves Echoes.
Even after she passed, I still feel her presence in the way I care for others, the way I find humor amid hardship, and the way I still pray through confusion. The love she gave wasn’t temporary; it became an echo in my soul, a resonance of grace that continues to guide me.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my mom, it’s that love doesn’t need to be loud to be life-changing. Her compassion shaped my faith, her humor lightened my burdens, and her courage redefined what family means.
So if you’re ever wondering where to begin when describing someone who changed your life, start with the one who chose you, and never stopped choosing you, every day.
Your Turn
Take a moment today to thank the person who chose to love you, even when they didn’t have to. Write them a letter, say a prayer, or carry their spirit forward through an act of kindness. Because love, once given, never really ends; it multiplies.
© 2025 Amelie Chambord
Soul Path Insights 
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