​A Whisper from Mom

Today, a simple photo swept me back in time. It captured a friend and his mom sharing a laugh over coffee in a mall back in the Philippines. Seeing their joy, my heart ached with the weight of missing my own mom, taken from us too soon.

My thoughts drifted to a cherished visit to Hereford in the UK, where my family and I spent time with Ms. H and her mother. It was our second meeting; the first was during a trip to Switzerland. Both times, Ms. H's mom embodied the spirit of my own mother. In Hereford, despite appearing more fragile with age, her vibrancy and warmth were undiminished.

Her embrace overwhelmed me, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. It was deeply comforting, so genuinely motherly. She whispered, "I missed you, and I love you." In that moment, it felt as though my own mom was there, her arms wrapped around me, her voice soothing my soul. Goosebumps covered my skin as her presence seemed to fill the space around me.

My daughter noticed my tears and came over to hold my hand. Her gentle voice urged, "Calm down, Mom." Her touch anchored me back to reality, yet the emotion lingered.

Reflecting on this now, I understand how deeply those we love influence us. My mom may no longer be physically here, but her love still reaches me, especially in moments like these. It's as if she lives on through the kindness others show me, a comforting continuation of her presence.
​
To anyone who has lost a loved one, you understand this bond. Their love never truly leaves us; it echoes in the laughter we remember, in the tears we shed, and in the embraces that remind us of theirs. These are whispers from them, assurances that they are still with us, still loving us. This enduring connection is a source of comfort that never fades.