When my mother passed away, I had the task ahead of me of going through her house to find whatever necessary paperwork we needed to take care of the funeral and whatnot. As I was going through some of the boxes I found this little red folder.
I opened it up and it was from a Literature class where for extra credit we kept a journal on what we were doing in school that day and our thoughts of it. Tucked away in a side pocket of the folder was this smaller book. It was a little journal I got at a book fair where you kept track of what you did on your summer vacation. My mom had kept all of that.
It was literally all I could do to keep from crying thinking about how I was reading the words of my much younger self and where my life had taken me.
What is truly sad is when people don’t get the chance to answer the questions they would have wanted to ask themselves when they were younger.
Taylor Smith, was a 12 year old who recently passed away due to pneumonia-related complications. After her passing, her parents discovered this letter that she had written to be open for her future self in 2023. I am warning you, get the tissues ready for this one.
Taylor Smith is a 12 year old who passed away due to pneumonia-related complications.
After her passing, her parents found these letters. (Transcript is at bottom of the post.)
She also left a drawing of her iPad reminding herself to tell her children about it.
Transcript:
How’s life? Life is pretty simple right now (10 years in your past). I know I’m late for you, but as I’m writing, this is early, so; congratulations on graduating high school! If you didn’t, go back and keep trying. Get that degree! Are you (we) in college? If not, I understand. We do have pretty good reasoning, after all. Don’t forget, it’s Allana’s 11th birthday today! Sheesh, 11 already? In my time, she just turned 1! I didn’t get to go to that party though, because I was in Cranks, Kentucky for my first mission trip. I’ve only been back for 6 days! Speaking of, how’s your relationship with GOD? Have you prayed, worshipped, read the bible, or gone to serve the lord recently? If not, get up and do so NOW! I don’t care what point in our life we’re in right now, do it! He was mocked, beaten, tortured, and crucified for you! A sinless man, who never did you or any other person any wrong! Now, have you gone on any more mission trips? Have you been out of the country yet? How about on a plane? Is Doctor Who still on the air? If not, what regeneration did they end it with? You should go watch some Doctor Who! Later though, you gotta finish reading your own words of wisdom! Do you have your own place yet? If we’re in college, what are we majoring in? Right now, I wanna be a lawyer. Have you been to Dollywood recently? Right now, their newest attraction is the Wild Eagle. It’s so fun! Also I think I’m going to sell my iPad and buy an iPad mini, Don’t forget to tell your kids that we’re older than the tablet! Atatched I also have a drawing of an iPad, so you can show them. Well, I think that’s all. But remember, it’s been 10 years since I wrote this. Stuff has happened, good and bad. That’s just how life works, and you have to go with it.
Sincerely, Taylor Smith
Those are some pretty mature words coming from a 12 year old little girl.