Betsy's Letter to Julie

When we were growing up, it seemed that anywhere we went in town there was always someone very excited to see you. The little ones usually enjoyed comparing height with you, especially if they hadn’t seen you in a while, and whether they were adults or little kids, you were never met with anything but sincere joy and enthusiasm. Everyone who has ever known you has absolutely loved you and benefited from your infectiously loving and nurturing spirit.
Your favorite thing to do was serve God and others (I know what that means because of you!). You loved to be the accompanist, on many levels. The accompanist accepts no glory but always supports and encourages so willingly and unselfishly. And though many knew (myself included) that this is the way we should live, it’s easy to excuse selfish, divisive, and other hurtful behavior with some ridiculous sense of entitlement. None of that was a part of the way you chose to live your life. I’ve only known you to be a meek and humble peacemaker. The accompanist also brings people together. Everyone gathers around the accompanist, who acts as the base and steady anchor, the rhythmic pulse, and the complimentary harmony, which allows everyone else to shine and fuses everything together to complete the music.
Your unfailing love has given us an understanding of God’s unconditional and sacrificial love. You’ve always waited with open arms, as we sought refuge with you. How lucky we are to have only wonderful things to say about you and such fun memories of you to treasure eternally. In fact, everything has a funny way of reminding me of you.
I’m reminded of you when I drink coffee, and how it was such a daily necessity for you, how cute you were when you’d get upset at the wait staff for neglecting you refills; the big thermos you’d take to school with you, all of the coffee mugs you received as gifts throughout the years – even just the smell and sound of brewing coffee.
I think of you as I’m cleaning my house, and the way you pretend to be on a show to make your chores more interesting; or how you talked in accents to the dishes and often just for fun. Silly thing stand out in my mind and are so fun to think about like making soup, classic literature, granola, going shopping, singing and playing music (especially with my children), when we made our dog do a series of tricks and called it ‘circus buddy’, and how you called the people going fast on the road ‘Ricky Racer’, and the time you said that the Verizon employee “talked too many words”; and singing in three part harmony and rounds in the car on trips (when we kids weren’t being too obnoxious).
It’s not easy to let you go, Mom. I really hate it!! It’s truly been such a complete pleasure, such a joy to be your daughter! Nothing could possibly replace you or even come close to comparing with you, and I’ll miss you every day of my life, Mom.
Thank you for being the incredible person you were! Thank you for never giving up on me, and continuing to love me so effortlessly! Thank you for constantly investing yourself in other people! Mom, I can only hope to be a fraction of the mother and person that you were. We have a new saying among our family, which is ‘what would Julie do?’, and we’re all trying to be more like you. Thank you for inspiring us all to be much better people, by showing us how. I love you so much, Mom!!