Love Letters
We never know how much notice we will be given on the timing of anyone’s death. The last words I ever said to my son Chris were “See you later,” as he was driving away after dropping his mother off to meet me. Chris died suddenly the next evening in an off-road truck accident. I was planning on giving him a special Love Letter for his 25th birthday, just two months away. But instead, I read his Love Letter to almost 1,100 people attending his funeral service. Chris never got to read my heartfelt words for himself.
This year, I was really excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom, as four months earlier, I had poured my heart out in a Love Letter to her that I hoped she and I would still be here on earth to share. Since the passing of my son, I am more sensitive to ensuring I let people know how and why I care for them. I am very grateful that on Mother’s Day 2020, I had the opportunity to share how I really feel about my mom and the significant impact she had made on me.
THANK YOU MOM!
Dear Mom,
I am writing you this letter as I want you to know how thankful I am for the love you have given me and for the many faithful decisions you’ve made over your lifetime. I would not be anywhere close to the person I have become, if it weren’t for you! Firstly, you decided to give me life. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You unexpectedly got pregnant at 18 and you could have chosen not to grant me life. Obviously, dad’s and your decision to marry and start your new family was one of the two most important decisions ever made for me! THANK YOU!
Secondly, you and dad decided not to divorce when you easily could have. You showed me examples of commitment, perseverance and faith. You chose your family over yourself. THANK YOU! Despite what anyone else believes, I feel your decisions not to abort or divorce were life changing, in the most positive way, for our entire family. THANK YOU!
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ABC Backwards
We never know how much notice we will be given on the timing of anyone’s death. The last words I ever said to my son Chris were “See you later,” as he was driving away after dropping his mother off to meet me. Chris died suddenly the next evening in an off-road truck accident. I was planning on giving him a special Love Letter for his 25th birthday, just two months away. But instead, I read his Love Letter to almost 1,100 people attending his funeral service. Chris never got to read my heartfelt words for himself.
This year, I was really excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom, as four months earlier, I had poured my heart out in a Love Letter to her that I hoped she and I would still be here on earth to share. Since the passing of my son, I am more sensitive to ensuring I let people know how and why I care for them. I am very grateful that on Mother’s Day 2020, I had the opportunity to share how I really feel about my mom and the significant impact she had made on me.
THANK YOU MOM!
Dear Mom,
I am writing you this letter as I want you to know how thankful I am for the love you have given me and for the many faithful decisions you’ve made over your lifetime. I would not be anywhere close to the person I have become, if it weren’t for you! Firstly, you decided to give me life. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You unexpectedly got pregnant at 18 and you could have chosen not to grant me life. Obviously, dad’s and your decision to marry and start your new family was one of the two most important decisions ever made for me! THANK YOU!
Secondly, you and dad decided not to divorce when you easily could have. You showed me examples of commitment, perseverance and faith. You chose your family over yourself. THANK YOU! Despite what anyone else believes, I feel your decisions not to abort or divorce were life changing, in the most positive way, for our entire family. THANK YOU!
Kathy & Chad Ekren – July 2019
Thirdly, you have been such an encourager of me. You were highly motivated to expose me to many sports, music, education and, to a degree, faith. You weren’t able to participate in all these activities in your childhood, so you were fiercely determined to ensure your children had opportunities that you didn’t have. Your belief in me, and the ‘pushing’ you sometimes did (especially when you wouldn’t let me go to hockey if I didn’t practice the piano!), helped me gain huge confidence in many areas which has provided so much joy in my life. THANK YOU!
Fourthly, and finally for this letter, you instilled many qualities in me from your example. Dedication to family is near the top of the list. You provided a home, for several years, for your much younger sister after your parents divorced. You treat your sister’s children like grandchildren, especially now that they don’t have their own. You’ve always opened up your home for all of your family and our friends to enjoy. You exemplified authenticity and transparency to me daily by constantly being present and by being an ‘open book’, willing to share most anything with me, which helped teach me to also be authentic and transparent. You have displayed outstanding resilience throughout your life as you’ve suffered much loss, including: never knowing your birth dad, enduring divorce of your parents, walking with your mother during the murder of her son and your brother and then caring for your beloved mother for many months as she died from cancer, and for ‘being there’ for each of your three children as we each have dealt with our own extreme adversities. THANK YOU!
Mom, this has been an easy, yet emotional, letter to write as the many positive memories of your outstanding attributes came rushing to my mind once I decided to put words onto paper. I have shed a lot of tears, mostly happy ones, as I sit in my familiar Café al Bacio on our cruise ship near the ‘bottom of the world’ in South America. I’ve cried because I am so fortunate to have had you in my life for 57 years and hopefully for many more. I’ve cried because I am mad at myself for not always showing you my love and appreciation for who you are. I’ve cried because I realize how much you mean to me and how much of a loss it will be for our family when we don’t have your ‘glue’ to keep us bound together.
Mom, THANK YOU!
Mom, I LOVE YOU!
Kathy & Chad Ekren – July 2019
Thirdly, you have been such an encourager of me. You were highly motivated to expose me to many sports, music, education and, to a degree, faith. You weren’t able to participate in all these activities in your childhood, so you were fiercely determined to ensure your children had opportunities that you didn’t have. Your belief in me, and the ‘pushing’ you sometimes did (especially when you wouldn’t let me go to hockey if I didn’t practice the piano!), helped me gain huge confidence in many areas which has provided so much joy in my life. THANK YOU!
Fourthly, and finally for this letter, you instilled many qualities in me from your example. Dedication to family is near the top of the list. You provided a home, for several years, for your much younger sister after your parents divorced. You treat your sister’s children like grandchildren, especially now that they don’t have their own. You’ve always opened up your home for all of your family and our friends to enjoy. You exemplified authenticity and transparency to me daily by constantly being present and by being an ‘open book’, willing to share most anything with me, which helped teach me to also be authentic and transparent. You have displayed outstanding resilience throughout your life as you’ve suffered much loss, including: never knowing your birth dad, enduring divorce of your parents, walking with your mother during the murder of her son and your brother and then caring for your beloved mother for many months as she died from cancer, and for ‘being there’ for each of your three children as we each have dealt with our own extreme adversities. THANK YOU!
Mom, this has been an easy, yet emotional, letter to write as the many positive memories of your outstanding attributes came rushing to my mind once I decided to put words onto paper. I have shed a lot of tears, mostly happy ones, as I sit in my familiar Café al Bacio on our cruise ship near the ‘bottom of the world’ in South America. I’ve cried because I am so fortunate to have had you in my life for 57 years and hopefully for many more. I’ve cried because I am mad at myself for not always showing you my love and appreciation for who you are. I’ve cried because I realize how much you mean to me and how much of a loss it will be for our family when we don’t have your ‘glue’ to keep us bound together.
Mom, THANK YOU!
Mom, I LOVE YOU!
A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories
I met Jackie Lee-Son years ago when she attended one of my retirement planning seminars. When I began sending out my Living in Faith reflections, Jackie was on my distribution list. Last year, I received an email from her inviting me to contribute to a guide she was compiling to help people write their family stories. I was intrigued but delayed getting down to it as I was busy.
A legacy letter to my son Nick appears in the newly published guide, A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories. Writing this letter met a personal need and enriched my relationship with Nick. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges but also given many of us the gift of time at home.
A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories
I met Jackie Lee-Son years ago when she attended one of my retirement planning seminars. When I began sending out my Living in Faith reflections, Jackie was on my distribution list. Last year, I received an email from her inviting me to contribute to a guide she was compiling to help people write their family stories. I was intrigued but delayed getting down to it as I was busy.
A legacy letter to my son Nick appears in the newly published guide, A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories. Writing this letter met a personal need and enriched my relationship with Nick. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges but also given many of us the gift of time at home.
While we are separated from loved ones, this time apart can help us become closer to them than ever before. Why not write a letter, send an email or text, and enjoy virtual visits. Whatever form of social media you choose, I encourage you to connect, share your feelings and get your stories in writing.
A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories will give you the inspiration you need, whether it is to write a love letter, as I have done here, or to share one memory or an entire life story. Jackie nudged me to do something that was difficult to get down to doing, but I am so grateful I did. Now I’d like to pay it forward – this is my nudge to you. Read more about the guide at www.aplaceforstories.com.
While we are separated from loved ones, this time apart can help us become closer to them than ever before. Why not write a letter, send an email or text, and enjoy virtual visits. Whatever form of social media you choose, I encourage you to connect, share your feelings and get your stories in writing.
A Place for Stories: Preserving Precious Memories will give you the inspiration you need, whether it is to write a love letter, as I have done here, or to share one memory or an entire life story. Jackie nudged me to do something that was difficult to get down to doing, but I am so grateful I did. Now I’d like to pay it forward – this is my nudge to you. Read more about the guide at www.aplaceforstories.com.