A letter to my daughter-in-law, whom I'll never meet.
Dear Daughter-in-law whom I'll never meet,
I have prayed for you since my son was so small. I prayed that your childhood was safe and loving. I prayed that you would grow up knowing how special you are. I prayed for your parents to raise you in such away that you would never doubt your worth. I prayed that you would be strong and capable. I prayed that you would be courageous. I prayed that you would be kind and love my son fully. I prayed for my son to grow into a man who would remember to always put you first and to always provide and always support your dreams. I would dream about watching you together as you learned about each other and fell in love. I imagine the conversation that I would have with my little baby boy, then a man, tell me he found the one. The one I had always prayed for. I fantasized about the day I finally met you. I would try to impress you, just as you would undoubtedly try to impress me. I knew I would love you as my own daughter through the love my son had for you. I dreamed of the day I saw you walk down the aisle to meet my precious son and start your lives together. I dreamed of watching you mother my grandchildren and maybe even teach you a few things I had learned.
I am sorry that those dreams will never come true. I will never meet you. I will never know your name. I look into the eyes of little girls around the same age as my son and think about who they will become. Could one of those innocent little girls have been my son's wife? Could that little giggling child be the person my son would have spent his life with? I'm truly sorry that I'll never know you.
I am sorry you will never meet my son. You will never know the hard way he hugged. You will never experience his laugh or his humor. You'll never feel the softness of his skin or know all the little specks of color in his eyes. You will never know the one, perfect freckle on his cheek. You will never know his goodness and willingness to love all others before himself.
The dreams I had for my son's future including the family he should have had died along with him. The grandchildren I should have had, will never be. The daughter in law I could have loved, I will never meet. My heart breaks for me, but more so for you.
I still pray for the wife that should have been my son's. I pray that you find love. That the person you choose forever with, will love you as hard as my son would have. I pray your children bring you joy and you learn the things I would have been honored to teach you. I still pray you know your worth. I pray your husband will love you fully and always makes you laugh. I pray for your future husband the same way I prayed for you. I pray you are happy.
I know you'll never know you were a widow before you even left grade school. But I know. I know the loss you'll never experience. I'll know the boy that would have been the man of your dreams. I'll hold him in my heart for you. I'll protect him and love him for you. I will carry his name for you. I will love him forever for you. And I'll never stop praying for you.
With all the love I can give,
The Mother-in-law whom you'll never know.