Legacy

Wow. I just got done watching a segment of Oprah and I am so glad I did. It made me tear up, but it was in an, "Oh my God. What an amazing story" kind of way. The whole show is about the producers favorite guests on the Oprah show and how each of them either made them laugh, cry, or changed their lives forever. This particular one was a story of a mother who was dying of cancer and wanted to leave a legacy of love for her 6 year old daughter Peyton. This woman, while dying, recorded a series of video tapes, giveing her daughter advice on life and love. She gave advice on everything from makeup to choosing a husband. There was a tape for almost every topic a young girl could ever need to know about. Those kind of things that you are meant to learn from your mom. In one of the tapes, she even spoke of how one day, Daddy would be ready to love again and that was okay, that he deserved to do that. She said how she wanted Peyton to accept this woman as a part of her life. 6 years later, Peyton, her father and the woman who was to be her new mother, sat and watched the video together. Hearing her mother speak of how love was a gift and they were going to be happy in their new life made it easier for both Peyton and her father to move on and also helped the new wife to know that Peyton understood she would never attempt to replace her mother, only to be an addition to the family her mother had so lovingly started. The mom purchased a sentimental gift for every birthday and every Christmas for the next 10 years, until Peyton reached the age of 16 as a way to help Peyton know her mother would always be with her. She even had a wedding gift tucked away. On top of taking care of their daughter, this woman also made sure her husband knew how their little girl liked to be tucked in and that he would need to snuggle and hold her when her mother was gone. How strong would a person have to be in order to do something like that? I just can't imagine knowing I would never see my child again and that I had to help her remember me, all the while, helping her to be able to live without me. I don't know why I found this show so interesting, but I guess it just made me think. It just amazes me how short life is, but really, what in the world is longer? We are given enough time to love and to live. Anything further than that is up to how we live it. A person who lives 100 years and never learns to love has a much shorter life than a 20 year old who has truly learned to love another. God is generous, I think we just overlook that now and again. I hope that someday, should a situation such as this arise, that I will be strong enough in mind, body and spirit to do what this mother has done. Just wanted to share. Tell someone you love them today. :)
I love you.