I remember vividly the night my mom finally snapped because of my dad.

It was after dinner. We were going to pick up my sister from ballet class but the car keys were nowhere to be found.

My dad rounded up my siblings and me so we could just walk toward the ballet school, which was about a 30 minute walk from our place. Thank goodness it was nighttime.

We were only halfway up our street when we heard banging and crashing from our house. Apparently, my mom was destroying things in a rage.

Our neighbors started coming out to check and as we passed, they asked my dad what was happening. My dad just smiled and said it was nothing, and not to worry.

When we got back home, our car was a total wreck. Not only that, my dad’s wine collection was all smashed outside, and there were burned photos and other stuff.

My mom has a heart of gold, but her anger? Unforgettable.

Could she have handled the situation better? Perhaps. It took me years to see the bigger picture.

For the longest time, I blamed my father for what could have been.

But now I realize what could have been would not have led to my now – to the many blessings I have and my appreciation for them.

Sometimes our deepest heartaches can crush us. But realize that it is through them that we can exercise our muscles to grow, stretch, survive, and be wiser.

You know what? My parents patched up after about 10 years—proof that even the deepest cracks can mend with time. 💕