02/25/2026
Riding For Mom ❤️
Today’s ride was dedicated to my mother, who passed away on February 22, 2012.
It has been fourteen years since you have been absent in the body, but present in Spirit.
Today, I rode with the intention of making it to the top of the mountain. Over the last year, I had reduced my riding time, and in my last few attempts, I was not successful in reaching the top. But today, after increasing my hill training and riding more consistently, I made it.
While I was riding, I felt your presence. You never gave me permission to give up—no matter what my aspirations were. You would often say, “You can do it.” Those words stayed with me today.
What a blessing it was to be raised by a mother who lived through the fight for equal rights—who stood for a world where people would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their character. I can only imagine what life was like for you. Yet, after all you went through, you were still determined to own your own business in spite of oppression and the pressures of a world that tried to make you play small and be insignificant.
But you said, No!
You did not allow any man to define you. Consciously or unconsciously, you embraced the identity of a child of God and a warrior. You paved a way to create a better life for yourself and your children.
Today, I draw from your strength and courage—especially when I see the same attempts by others to make me feel like I am not good enough, not smart enough, or less than, just so they can feel better about themselves.
So here I am, at the top of the mountain, remembering that you climbed many mountains of your own—through life, through struggle, through injustice, and through faith.
Today, I give you and God the praise for blessing me with a mother who demonstrated what it means to never give up, no matter what.
Thank you, Mom. I love you, and I miss you. ❤️
