All That She Is

Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Melinda Fay Johnson understands that all too well. She was born on March 1, 1990. Her life began as normally as any other, but before she knew it, that would come to an end.
On May 8, 2000 Melinda lost her mother. She was a mere 10-years-old. She believes it was that day that was her most defining. That retched day was followed by nothing but pure hell. She not only had to bear the death of her mother, but also abuse, taunting, and the foster care system. Although, her grandparents eventually adopted her and her brother, she was not unscathed by her experiences. Today, she thanks her grandmother for playing the role of her mother, but still knows there is no replacing her.
Melinda lost her mother at a young age, but also became a mother in the same manner. She gave birth to her vibrant son, Drake on November 15, 2007. She was just 17-years-old.
Motherhood scared her to death. She explains, “I felt like I was walking
into a crowded room ready to give a lifetime speech about something I had never heard of before.” With that said, there were many people in that room waiting to hear to speech, and she hasn’t let them down yet. Her brother, Mathew says the first time she held Drake was the moment that he honestly felt she was going to make a great mom. She reminds him of their own mother already because she effortlessly puts Drake first, and he easily falls to sleep in her arms.
Melinda would tell you that her most missed memory of her mother are those “motherly hugs and kisses.” A person could easily see that in her relationship with her son. She smothers him with love, hugs, and kisses over and over. One day he will surely miss the same thing about her because there is nothing more rewarding than a mother’s love.
Her favorite memory of Drake is the day he started to call her mommy, or more like know her as mommy. That is probably because of the special bond of mother and son, but also that word “mommy” brings her even closer to her own mother.
Melinda says if she had one last question she could ask her mother it would be how she was able to share her love between her brother and her. Her biggest fear in life is that as her family grows she will not be able to do just that- share her love between her children. What Melinda does not realize now is that she will because all that she is, or hopes to be, she owes to her angel mother.