Love Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect — It Just Has to Be Real

When Isabel was born, the nurses hesitated before handing her over to her mother, Lena — a 21-year-old woman with Down syndrome. With no family by her side, no partner to share the journey, and a world full of doubt, the doctors and others questioned whether she could raise a child.

They said things like, “She won’t be able to keep up,” and “The child will suffer.” But Lena, undeterred by the doubts around her, simply held her baby close and whispered, “I don’t know everything… but I know how to love.”

From that moment on, love became the beacon that guided their lives. It wasn’t a love defined by perfection, but a love rooted in authenticity and strength.

Lena might not have been able to help with algebra or write lesson plans, but she never missed a parent-teacher meeting. She packed Isabel’s lunches with little notes that said, “You are my sunshine.” Each note was a reminder that love, patience, and dedication were more powerful than anything else. She taught Isabel kindness, resilience, and the importance of finding joy even in the hard times.

When Isabel was ten years old, a classmate laughed when she shared her dream of becoming a scientist. “You can’t,” the classmate said, “Your mom has a disability.” But Isabel stood tall, her confidence rooted in the unconditional love her mother had given her. “My mom raised me,” she said. “That’s the smartest thing anyone’s ever done.”

Years later, Isabel graduated at the top of her class — a testament to the love and faith her mother had instilled in her. She had grown up surrounded by a love that never wavered, and it carried her through the challenges she faced.

Love doesn’t need to be flawless or grand. It just needs to be true — and it can create miracles.