After my Miracle Mornings practice this AM, I was motivated to read something by Maya Angelou.  I had purchased Letter to my Daughter at the end of March because it was on sale on Audible and although my literary focus for April is African authors, there is never a bad time to listen to the wisdom of Ms Angelou and so I began listening.

It is amazing to hear her voice speaking to me as I sit on my balcony,

I just finished Chapter 18 where she talks about the Loves she has lost. She  is still raw from the recent death of Coretta Scott King whom she considered a friend.  

“When I find myself filling with rage over the loss of a beloved, I try as soon as possible to remember that my concerns and questions should be focused on what I learned or what I have yet to learn from my departed love. What legacy was left which can help me in the art of living a good life?

Did I learn to be kinder,
To be more patient,
And more generous,
More loving,
More ready to laugh,
And more easy to accept honest tears?
If I accept those legacies of my departed beloveds, I am able to say, Thank You to them for their love and Thank You to God for their lives.”
― Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

I lost my first daughter when she was 7 years old and the pain of that loss is with me each and every moment of each and every day.  

But there is also joy from knowing that she was here, that I had 7 amazing years . . .

From Natalia, I learned to be patient.  I learned to be kinder. 

 I learned to never take time for granted.  I learned to love whomever I love with a fierce and protective love.  I learned that  memories can be treasures, so make sure to make the most treasurable memories that you can make.  

I hope that you too can take Ms Angelou’s words to heart and take every moment and every loss as a learning opportunity.

Share this post: