'BLESS YOUR HEART'...a phrase I use all the time.  I got it from two women who also used it all the time;  Southern born and bred sisters, Olive and Marlene, my mother and my aunt.

It is about lifting someone up no matter what....sometimes used in humor, like I cannot BELIEVE she said/did that but I love her anyway so, "bless her heart"....and sometimes used in all seriousness cuz' well, right now, just "bless their hearts".

Like all things we repeat over and over, one can lose sight of the meaning of those words.

Recently, though, their meaning has resounded with me in a profound way.

Marlene's daughter, Teresa (I call her Tressa), is my 'lil' cuz' and she had a pacemaker put into her this week.   She is 5 years younger than I and a healthy lifestyles lady.  Walks.  Eats well.  Doesn't drink or smoke or use drugs.  Never has.

She can still fit into the wedding gown our 2 mothers wore.

I, on the other hand, can still fit in the VEIL!

This pacemaker is another step in a battle that began just 3 weeks ago when the doctors told her that her heart was damaged and is only doing 15% of what it oughta' be doing.

Huh?

Honestly?

Huh?

So now Tressa needs a new heart;  the doctor said she should do well cuz' she is so HEALTHY.

She said, "If I am so HEALTHY, why do I need a new heart?"

Good question.

No good answer.

Like when my sister-in-law died too early of cancer or our grandson was diagnosed at 2 mos with cancer OR OR OR?!?!

You most likely are thinking of something or someone in your life right now.

As Tressa says,"It just IS!"

And she has and will continue to do what IS with grace and dignity.

But, man-o-man, I wish she didn't have to do what IS!

So her 15% heart is 115% on my mind and heart.

Which has spilled over onto a bless-your-heart-blog...

....because NEVER have those words had more meaning for me than they do right now

Just like our mothers' shared wedding gown fits her, I REALLY want their shared phrase to fit her.

"Bless your HEART, Tressa."

Bless. Your. Heart.