Flimkien April-2 - Flipbook - Page 13
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April 2021
Was it difficult bringing him up? No doubt
about that.
But the greater challenges were with the
perception of society, the mentality of the
educational system, the lack of vision of
governments to provide the best possible
support and facilities to help them
throughout their longer life-span.
For the last 28 years we have been a voice to
raise awareness, we have been advocates for
diversity and inclusion, we have been a force
to challenge governments and institutions
in changing their mentality, and to this day
these challenges persist.
In the meantime, time was passing. Our
children were growing. Our two elder sons
were now young men, busy with their studies
and their commitments. They were very
different in character and in the things they
liked to do. We couldn’t help noticing some
things about one of them, but we never really
asked questions.
This son of ours went to work and settle
abroad. One time. when we were visiting,
I mustered up the courage to ask this
impertinent question: “Are you gay?” The
answer came back, “Ma, I thought you
knew!”
April 2021
LOUISA GRECH
Yes, in the depths of my heart I had known!
Truth be said, there was no question that it
would ever make a difference to me. I loved him
with all my heart, and I would never stop loving
him.
My son was not the problem, but society was,
and the Church was! My greatest fear was always
how others would treat him. Society still thinks
this is a choice, in spite of the many scientific
papers that say otherwise!
This too wasn’t an easy journey for us. It took
time to process, to look for support, to build up
the courage to even share it with others. Some
reactions were surprisingly positive, others
neutral verging on cold. We laid our demons to
rest when we joined Drachma Parents, where
we felt welcomed and safe. We continue to be a
voice for awareness and advocates for diversity
and inclusion but now in two sectors.
I have always had a close relationship with God
and sought His guidance.
I asked my son:
“Are you gay?”
The answer came back,
“Ma, I thought you knew!”
13
In all of these experiences, and in many others
not even mentioned here, I prayed and prayed
a lot. My prayer is, more often than not, a
conversation or a ranting, asking questions,
pleading, thanking, praising, crying, sobbing,
being myself, expressing all that I am going
through, literally emptying or hurling all my
emotions at Him.
And His answer: I LOVE YOU.
He asks me not to judge anyone for I do not
know what they are going through. He asks me to
love everyone, no matter their ability, their skin
colour, their belief, their sexual orientation, and
no matter how much they have hurt me. He asks
me to be kind and caring, to not be afraid to help
someone, to not be afraid to speak up against
injustices of any kind, to be open and learn. To
love and laugh. To listen, to be there for others, to
walk the walk with them, to offer love and peace.
I have felt His loving embrace! And He asks
me, above all else, to embrace others as He has
embraced me.
