There is so little in life that is more difficult that losing a special person who is still very young. We tend to believe that there is a normal way for living a life that takes each of us into the days of gray hair and retirement. Once in a while we are sadly stunned when a young person among us dies. It always feels as if the whole universe is out of whack.
I experienced this as a child of eight when my thirty three year old father died in a car accident. I don’t suppose that I ever fully got over the shock and the loss that I felt even as I learned how to move forward. Each time I have experienced the death of a young man or woman it has torn me apart because I know all too well how it will impact that person’s family and friends. Somehow it always feels like a grave misalignment of how things should work.
I learned only this weekend that one of my former students, Monserrat Botello Menjivar, died last week from cancer. I remember her as a lovely young teenaged girl with a quick smile and a kindness for others that made her quite special to everyone who knew her. She was a good student who took learning seriously so it did not surprise me that she ultimately went to college and earned a degree in education. Not only did she embark on a career teaching but she was eventually named the teacher of the year at her school.
I was thrilled for Montserrat but not so much surprised that she had thrown her heart into being and educator. She was always someone who strove to be her very best. I knew that her intellect and giving personality had no doubt shown her to be exceptionally dedicated to her work with young people. It made me smile to learn of her success and I believed that she would leave a wonderful legacy to the world through her teaching.
Monserrat was also a loving wife and mother who brought smiles to all of us who followed her on Facebook. She was so in love with her husband and the two of them always seemed to find the time to enjoy life with special occasions and trips. I was happy to see that her life was so meaningful and filled with so much love.
Monserrat had a little girl who was walking in her footsteps as a good student and sweet person. Later she had a little boy who was as precious as his sister. Seeing her living life to its fullest was like chicken soup for my soul. I always feel so much better when I see my former students being not just successful but also very happy. It was easy to see what a great mother, wife and educator she was.
I watched Monserrat and her husband build a special bond together. They were a team that worked hard and soon they seemed to be living the American dream with a new home and jobs that they both enjoyed. Most of all they were proud parents doing an awesome job of raising children to be a gift to the world.
Somehow I missed the original notice that Monserrat had died. The Facebook algorithm does not always keep me in touch with all of the people who are important to me. Another student sent me a message giving me the horrific news that Monserrat had died. I have been in a state of disbelief and sorrow ever since. Somehow it feels as if the world was cheated in losing such a wonderful soul and yet I know that these kind of things happen more often that we would like.
I hope and pray that Montserrat’s husband and children will find peace and comfort from knowing how wonderful she was. Surely her spirit will continue to live among them for all of their lives. I know that all of us who knew her have beautiful memories of her stunning smile and the kindness that seemed to be her trademark. I know that I will never forget seeing her become an incredible woman but not being surprised at all by that. She stood out as a student as someone who was quite special and she certainly fulfilled the hopes and dreams that I had for her.
Our grief is heavy as we say goodbye to a lovely young woman who accomplished so much in a very short life. May her memory always be a blessing to us all, most especially to her husband and children. I wish for them to know the love and joy that their mother spread through all of her time on this earth.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 