This letter becomes the thread that ties a son back to his mother in a motherly voice that speaks forever, carrying love across time.

And you were broken
when your girlfriend left you.
Then you asked me
to read you
that letter.
That letter… yes.
The one you always read
when you hurt.

But you were too broken to read it…

I unfolded it.
Your face in pain.

Then I started reading it…

Your mother’s voice coming through
like bolts of lightning in a
a Madagascar storm…

“You will get to read this letter
after I am gone.
That saddens me.
A lot… more than you
will ever know.

You will not see me.
You will miss me,
always wondering
what kind of mother
I would have been
if I had lived long enough
to be in your life.

But know this…
I will always love you.

Your father will tell you this…
and hear it from me.
If I had a choice,
I would live longer
to see you grow.
But such is life…
I have no control over it.

This life, my son,
is short.
Before you know it,
it is gone.

Don’t waste
your time and energy
on things or people
that create drama
or bring the worst
out of you.

Choose your friends
and the people
you hang out with
carefully.

Some people
will drain you.
Don’t fight with them.
Walk away.

Associate with people
that make you
a better person.

Be happy,
but know this…
things, or even people,
money and jobs
don’t buy you happiness.
Only you can be happy
if you choose
to be happy.

Love your wife.
She will honor you back
and respect you.
She will be
your greatest support.

Make peace with God.
An eternity
without Him
is too burdensome
to imagine.

Don’t stress over bills.
They will always be there
even after you are gone.
Your joy and peace
are worth more.
You have never
been forsaken
thus far.
Surely… this won’t
happen as a first.

Always be a good parent.
Your children are your mirrors,
the fruit of your legacy.

A job is a job…
it pays the bills.
Like anything else,
jobs come and go.
But your soul
lives on.

Enjoy, travel,
see new places,
meet new people…
that is the palette of life
we should all enjoy.

Use the new dinnerware;
wear your best clothes and shoes.
You can only do it once
while you are living.

So, live, love,
smell each rose
along the way,
forgive, and enjoy
every sunrise
and sunset…
as if each
was your last.

So, I say,
hard as it is… goodbye.
From a mom
you never grew to know,
but one who grew
to love you
in the few years
she lived with you.

I will always
love you
dearly
and tenderly.”

Then…
I folded the letter
and we hugged.

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Author Bio
Dr. Ivan Edwards is a man comfortable wearing several hats in life. A polymath, he is an ordained non-denominational minister, a medical doctor, a USAF flight surgeon (at the rank of Colonel), an entrepreneur and CEO, and a writer-poet.

His work explores healing, restoration, resilience, identity, and the strength of the human spirit shaped by faith.

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