Mara Harmon: Faith

Mara had been searching high and low for the misplaced letter. In a rush to get things packed up, she thought she had set it down on the table - only it wasn't there. Mara could feel the angst well up inside her as she overturned everything in sight. "Where is it?" Mara cried out in frustration. "It has to be here. I was sure I set it down right here." 

Desperate to find the letter, Mara took a few deep breaths and retraced her steps. 

"Okay, Mara, you can do this - think, Mara." 

Mara was no stranger to talking herself off the ledge. She'd been like this since her early college days when she'd fret over an exam, and then pass it with flying colors. Her Aunt Viola, a firm believer in having faith in yourself and your abilities, had taught her the importance of taking a few deep breaths and gently walking yourself through the moment. Aunty Vi, as Mara fondly called her, had on more than one occasion been a calming force in Mara's type-A life - including the day Mara had to present her dissertation. 

Mara, pacing back and forth, continued to recall her steps.

"Okay, Mara. You packed the last box, remember, but you didn't want to put the letter in it. You feared it getting lost during the move." 

Mara now saw the irony in her decision not to pack the letter and paced even quicker as she tried to remember what she did with it. 

Mara could almost hear Aunty Vi's voice coaching her through the moment. "And then what, Mara?" Aunty Vi would always ask. 

"The flowers! I remembered that I needed to water the Violets." 

Violets were Mara's favorite flower. She loved their painted faces and vibrant colors, and how every year, they'd sprout volunteers in the most random places. It always made Mara smile to plant them each Spring, and see them fill out as the warm weather encouraged them to thrive - much like Aunty Vi had done for Mara through the years. The Violets were hearty, cheerfully fragrant, and plentiful - and like Aunty Vi, who gave Mara her first Violet plant after she graduated from college, they reminded her to keep the faith - because no matter the conditions, they weathered the storm.

"That's it!" Mara exclaimed as she had her aha moment thinking about the flowers. "Oh, how I love you, Aunty Vi - you've done it again!" 

Mara sprinted outside onto the porch and glanced at the teak table. There, safely tucked away under the stone pineapple planter sat Aunt Vi's letter. Mara had set it there planning to return quickly to read it, but a call from the University had pulled her away. Now, relieved, Mara scooched onto the porch swing and sighed. "Oh, thank goodness," Mara said as she held the letter close to her chest, and then began to read it. 

"Dear Mara,

I know what you are probably thinking - that you can't do this. But can't isn't a word in our vocabulary, remember? You, Mara, CAN do this. Just as your mother did it before you. You are the apple that didn't fall far from her tree. Do you recall when you were eight, Mara, and you were nervous about having to present your report in front of the whole school? Do you remember what I said to you? Well, it still holds today - don't ever forget it, and always keep it with you. It will never fail you, Mara. The same way you have never failed us. No matter what, you continue to make us proud. You can do this, Mara. Your dream is only hours away. And we will be waiting for you on the other side. You've got this, Mara. Today and always.   

Much love,

Aunty Vi"

Mara smiled, and tears began to form in her eyes as she felt the faith deep in her heart that Aunty Vi always had for her - and that Mara finally had for herself. And just like when she was eight, Mara did what she needed to do - with faith in one hand and hope in the other, she gave the most important presentation of her life, and nailed it.