I was walking down my driveway one evening after pulling my trash can from the top of the driveway. After putting it away I turned around to see a lone flower on my hedging. It was white and beautifully formed. Now I love admiring flowers but I’m no gardener. I don’t plant them, I don’t buy them for myself only to giveaway, I simply admire them from a distance. Why? Because I can never keep plants alive. Heck, I don’t even know the name of this plant, bush, hedge hiding my front porch. Either way, it was beautiful. It made me think of myself as a LE wife and my family.
We are part of a huge tree but sometimes we stand alone. And it’s ok. We are a law enforcement family that’s part of a church community. But we stand out because we are a law enforcement family. We are a LE family with a special needs son. Sometimes we stand out in the LE community because of that. As a LE wife sometimes I stand out because I’m black. At some point or another we all stand out. It’s not a bad thing, at lest not for me it isn’t. I love standing out. I love being different. I love representing the TBL and most times that definitely makes me stand out.
What made that single flower on the entire hedging so profound was the fact that it bloomed so beautifully and perfectly. It owned it’s position on the bush even though it was the only flower. I always tell my girls you can’t stand out if you’re busy trying to fit in. It’s ok to be different. It’s ok to be unique. You can not make a difference if you don’t stand out, but in standing out you must do it with confidence. Own your position as a LE wife whether you’re in a room full of doubters or not. You should see me walk through Walmart with a TBL shirt on. I respond to sneers with smiles every single time. On the inside I wonder if it’s the shirt or my hair or if there’s something on my face. When I have my son with me and he goes off in his own world I pretend to not see the sneers and I don’t try to tame him. I own my position as a mom with a special needs son.
I know it’s easier said than done. But your ability to show yourself beautiful and confident in whatever crowd you may find yourself, might just be what another wife needs to see. When you stand out you provide a struggling wife with an opportunity to reach out for help. Hold your head up, wear that smile (and t-shirt) with confidence. Blue line sister you were made to stand out, not simply fit in. You, my love, are a world-changer. Own it!
l Kerry-Ann l