Dear Mom,
Tomorrow, March 8, is your birthday. Had you lived past September of 1992, and if I have calculated correctly, you would have turned 90 today.
Had you lived, you would have loved what your six children and their spouses have given to this crazy world: seventeen grandchildren and so far, some thirty great-grandchildren. You offered the world the gift of life, and that gift has multiplied five-fold, not only in numbers but also in goodness.
Tomorrow, March 8, is your birthday. Had you lived past September of 1992, and if I have calculated correctly, you would have turned 90 today.
Had you lived, you would have loved what your six children and their spouses have given to this crazy world: seventeen grandchildren and so far, some thirty great-grandchildren. You offered the world the gift of life, and that gift has multiplied five-fold, not only in numbers but also in goodness.
You would be so proud of all your grandchildren. They are excelling in all manner of endeavors—science, real insurance, physical training, banking, the law, teaching, nursing, homemaker, the military, and so much more. Mom, every one of those grandchildren pays tribute to your goodness and love by sharing goodness and love with their spouses, lovers, children, friends, and family. Whether by way of biology or by your presence, you live in each of them.
Your older grandchildren remember you and speak of you with love and fondness. Do you remember when you would lay out “office supplies” for Kaylie and Katie when they would visit? They do. Do you remember those Thanksgivings at the Palmer House in Waynesville, when all of us would gather and the dining room swarmed with infants and toddlers? Some of those little ones do. You gave those grandchildren all your love, and now they are doing the same with their own children.
You gave us the greatest gift in the world. You gave us yourself. You were the template of goodness for your children. They served as the same for their own children. Now your children’s children’s children are feeling your presence.
My church teaches that prayers for the dead are efficacious and that the dead can in turn pray for us. It’s called the communion of saints. Well, if anyone I’ve ever known deserved to be a saint, a soul living in the presence of God in heaven, it’s you.
Thank you for the prayers.
Rest in peace, Mom. And Happy Birthday.
I love you,
Jeff
Your older grandchildren remember you and speak of you with love and fondness. Do you remember when you would lay out “office supplies” for Kaylie and Katie when they would visit? They do. Do you remember those Thanksgivings at the Palmer House in Waynesville, when all of us would gather and the dining room swarmed with infants and toddlers? Some of those little ones do. You gave those grandchildren all your love, and now they are doing the same with their own children.
You gave us the greatest gift in the world. You gave us yourself. You were the template of goodness for your children. They served as the same for their own children. Now your children’s children’s children are feeling your presence.
My church teaches that prayers for the dead are efficacious and that the dead can in turn pray for us. It’s called the communion of saints. Well, if anyone I’ve ever known deserved to be a saint, a soul living in the presence of God in heaven, it’s you.
Thank you for the prayers.
Rest in peace, Mom. And Happy Birthday.
I love you,
Jeff
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