My Mother’s Death Gave Me New Words

by Karen Topakian

Writing cards and letters comes easily to me. Especially birthday greetings. Or wedding cards. Anything requiring a happy, celebratory message. The sad ones prove the hardest, especially sympathy cards.

When I mentioned this to my mother, she asked, “You’re a writer. Why can’t you write a simple message of sympathy?”

I didn’t know why. I just knew I struggled to find the right words to express my feelings about loss. The only ones I could muster sounded flat and pat. I wanted to do better.

Often, I delayed sending the card while I waited for divine inspiration, which rarely arrived.

But no longer. Since I received so many caring and thoughtful cards and messages to help me through my current tear-filled moments, I can now write these words to others, hopefully providing the same comfort they gave me.

“Thinking about you as you work to figure out life without your mother. I can imagine the hard and the good memories mix and mingle frequently for you…”

“Losing a parent was like having the earth become unstable under my feet.”

“I wish you peace in heart, health in body and strength in spirit. And for you to have far more joy than sorrow.”

My mother would be happy to know that through her death I now have the right words.