Dear Mom,

It’s been 37 years since you went to your heavenly home on this very day. And from your holy vantage point I know you know that I miss you still nearly every day. Oh, I am not weeping or feeling pangs of desperate sadness, but every now and then I wish you were here. Let’s have lunch or go shopping! We used to love that!

You only met one grandchild, Mom, and while life brought you a total of eight, I gave you two beautiful granddaughters–Jamie and Megan. Jamie got to sit in your arms as a baby, but Megan never did. I have tried to keep your memory alive for them, but it’s tough conjuring up a memory of someone not present on earth. I believe they love you anyway. Hey…one is an architect and the other a high school psychologist. They are busy, hardworking and loving young women married to a couple of strong and caring young men. I know you know.

Hey Mom, you also have four great grandchildren. Two boys and two girls. “Two of each” as Dad used to say. The oldest is in kindergarten and the youngest is only one and there are two three year olds in the middle. They are precious, Mom. I know you know that as you watch from above, but it would be so cool if you could read to them, or talk to them or hold their little hands. Each one is so full of personality all their own.

My brothers and I do our best to stay in touch despite the fact that our two anchors, you and dad, are gone. We have modern phones that allow us to send messages to one another even if making a phone call is not convenient on a given day. Those text messages, as they are called, are helpful ways to keep track of each other.

Mom, the Bible tells us special things about mothers and some of those words remind me of you:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12

“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father.” – Leviticus 19:3

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’” – Proverbs 31:28-31

I miss you, Mom, but I am glad you were mine.

I know you know.