"The Worrier, The Warrior"
"The Worrier, The Warrior"
Her mission, quiet and unwavering.
A worry that never sleeps,
a strength that never breaks.
Her body leans toward the edge,
fighting quietly for a better day.
A joy that warms the heart,
the world cannot understand.
These moments
the life support,
the reason to live, to crave.
And through the darkest nights,
my God still makes a way.
Don’t Fear Me.
Hersberger
Provenance:
Title: "The Worrier, The Warrior"
Artists: Ela and Larry Hersberger
Date of Creation: February 2026
Location of Creation: North Carolina, United States
Subject: Commissioned portrait by the McBride Family.
BEHIND THE ART
The “Worrier, The Warrior” is a reflection on the quiet, often lonely journey of parenting a child with special needs. Her mission is silent and unwavering—carried in moments that many never see or fully understand.
The poem speaks to a worry that never sleeps, a constant awareness rooted in love. It is the kind of love that stays alert through the night, that listens, watches, and holds steady no matter the cost. Alongside that worry is a strength that does not break, even in the face of emotional and physical exhaustion—standing at the edge, yet continuing to fight quietly for a better day.
Alongside that worry is a strength that does not break. Even at the edge of emotional and physical exhaustion, she continues—fighting quietly for a better day.
While the world may see struggle, this piece reveals something deeper: a joy that outsiders often cannot comprehend. In a mother’s eyes, even the smallest smile, the tiniest victory, becomes a celebration—firework-worthy, full of meaning and light.
“These moments” are more than memories—they are life support. They sustain her, give her purpose, and become the reason she continues forward.
And through it all, even in the darkest nights and deepest valleys, there is faith—a quiet assurance that God is present, making a way when none can be seen.
This poem was inspired by the challenges our little girl has faced and the strength she showed through it all. When she went through her open-heart surgeries, we sat beside her, holding on through long days and nights, exhausted yet steady. We counted her breaths and listened to every beep of the machines, carrying both hope and fear in each moment. Knowing it is up to God to make a way.