My dearest Mummy,

This is now my fifth Mother’s Day without you. I want to tell you how I spent it, but first let me tell you how I spent this year since my last Mother’s Day without you.

You’ll be happy to know it’s been my best year since you left me on May 5, 2021. (I know the correct term is “left us,” but from my perspective, you left me more than you left all of us.)

I’ve spent this year working on the childhood dream you always believed would someday become reality. I wish you were here to see it, but you’re in good company.

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible tells us that Abraham, Sarah, and others in the Faith Hall of Fame died without seeing their promises become reality: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them…” (Hebrews 11:13).

You’re in the company of Abraham, Sarah, and others who “died in faith.” And this is one of the promises you saw only from afar: my debut novel, Gullible Travels.

It was released on what would have been your and Papa’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. I celebrated that even more than I celebrated the twentieth anniversary of my becoming a US citizen on April 29, 2005.

I cannot count the times I wished I could pick up the phone and tell you how the writing was coming along, or to ask you to pray for me. It was even tougher than being stuck in a scene and not knowing how to fix it.

I’ve written enough to know the Lord will always help me fix a scene.

I’ve just not lived enough to stop reaching for my phone to talk to you.

While composing my most difficult Facebook post ever, I had wanted to open the last sentence with the clause “As I continue my journey without her,” but I felt someone would post a comment to the effect of “You will never be without her.” And it was too soon for that, so I left out “without her.”

Four years on, I know I am never without you, for you’ve lived in my heart every single day since you left me.

And even more fully, even more gloriously, you have lived in the presence of the One who told a grieving woman, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

This afternoon after church I had a divine appointment with a new friend and her son. We were together for almost two hours, exhorting and praying for each other! When we parted ways, I visited my favorite shoe shop, which was having a Mother’s Day sale.

I thought the store would be empty, with all the moms being at lunch, but apparently I caught the post-lunch boom. The checkout line was among the longest I’ve ever stood in at that store.

The lady ahead of me was having a bad day. She kept correcting her sons, and later, when her elderly mother joined the line, she spoke sharply to her too.

When the cashier called “Next in line,” the mother went ahead. At which the lady turned to me and said, “Look at her, cutting in front of me.”

“It’s Mother’s Day,” I said, hoping that would soften her heart. But instead she retorted, “Yeah, and that too on Mother’s Day.”

As I was walking out of the store, I realized I should have said, “I wish I had a mother to cut in front of me.”

It might have reminded her to appreciate what she has while she still has it.

Either way, it’s not going to be easy. And that’s another reason why I’m happier today than I was on my last Mother’s Day without you. I’m one year closer to seeing you again!

Until then, I pray I will finish my race well. Like you.

Love you,

Your Favorite Second Daughter

(c) 2025 by Sharon Arpana Edwards. All rights reserved.