Dear Anna,
I wanted to write a welcome to you, let you know we are happy you are here.
I wish that I could draw a picture for you, of all that you have missed up until this time, a way to give you a history of our family at a glance.
So you are never out of the loop, never missing the joke from the outside or questioning the tension over a past you didn’t live through.
But I can’t draw.
And I decided it’s not my job anyhow.
You are here now, where you are supposed to be, at the time you were meant to be here. God will draw it out for you, just the parts you need to know, and Joel can color it in.
Mostly I wish you could have heard the voice of our mother tell you how pleased she is.
She would not have said it outright.
That wasn’t her style.
She would have chosen ways to share her joy in gifts, in sacrifice, with laughter, with wisdom and with honor.
It was the same with us, the other four.
She did not say how much she admired what we were, but she framed it, and held it up for others to see.
She did not say aloud what affection she felt for us often, but she nurtured, she cradled and she sang.
Her words for us were always simple, and they were on time.
She never pushed us to be overachievers, or pressured us to conquer the world. She simply showed us how to conquer the situations we encountered day by day. She showed us how to be unwavering and content and in so doing, we learned that the world wasn’t worth conquering if you couldn’t smile at the end of the day.
Today, you are the new Mrs. Troyer. We don’t expect you to be her. We don’t even expect that of ourselves.
We do hope that you will enjoy being a part of her family, of our family, a part of the legacy that she left to her daughters.
We hope that you will take the hand of our brother and continue the prayers that she prayed over him.
We hope that you are confident, that you are secure and that you never question who you are or where God has brought you.
And we are here for you, not because we think you need us, but because we’re sisters, and we’re glad you are among us.
Love,
Mary
This is so beautiful. I love the story and the sentiment behind it all.
Mary, l LOVE your way with words!
Gosh I wish I could write like that! You write everything I’m thinking only I can’t see it very well for the tears and I have to keep wiping away tears.
I want to be your sixth sister! How sweet.
Beautifully written. What a tribute. Your Mother must have been one terrific lady. I can see what she instilled in Becky and through your writing what she has instilled in you.
May God richly bless you.
Virginia
Beautiful!
Mary,
Your mom would be so please…and yes, her prayer has been answered.
I always admired her and I know you miss her greatly. But you are taking a part of her and keeping it alive.
You are talented and gifted…may God continue to use you!
Such a beautifully moving tribute to your mother, and a lovely welcome to your new sister. 🙂
Mary, I can’t express how beautiful your tribute was to your mother. And the wonderful words for your new sister. My god bless you all.
Mary, you never cease to touch my deepest emotions.
What a precious welcome for your new sister-in-law, and remembrance of your mother. Thank you for the blessings you bestow through your gift to all of us who have the priviledge of knowing you!
Tears. What a gift to her, to Joel. And, I’m sure, what gifts she’ll have to offer the Troyer name! Congratulations to you all!