Ring of Flowers by Brian Andrews Read Free Book Online Page A

diary.
    “This was your mother’s diary. Before she went to heaven, she gave it to me, as a present.”
    “Will you give it to me as a present?” “Yes. Someday, a long time from now, when it’s time for me to go to heaven, then I will.”
    George nodded.
    Finding the right spot in the diary, Paul draped the silk bookmark into the crease between pages. “George, would you like me to read the letter that your mother wrote to you, just before she went to heaven?”
    The boy looked at his father with wonder. “Mama wrote me a letter?”
    “Yes, a very special letter. Do you want me to read it?”
    “Oh, yes,” George exclaimed, with high-pitched bravado.
    August 14, 1666
    To my dearest son,
    It will be many years before you are old enough to read this, but when the day comes, I pray that you have room in your heart enough to love a mother you have never known. For my heart is so full of love, and swollen with pride, to have birthed a son as strong and fair as you. The three months since your birth have passed so quickly, and I am left aching for more time. My tears flow at the melancholy idea. But know this, I have cherished every moment with you, and you will occupy my every thought till my last waking breath.
    From the first moment I felt you growing inside me, I have pondered your future. What nature of man will you be? Will you be caring and passionate like your father? Will you be proud and obstinate like your grandfather Henry, or will you be congenial and temperate like your grandmother Alice? Will you be strong like the Fosters or softer like the Vicars clan? Will you be devoted and humble like my father, your namesake, or will you be carefree and enchanting like my mother, Mary? No doubt you will possess little pieces of all the people I love, which brings me peace. I am left only wondering now what traits you will have received from me.
    It is an impossible task to write in verse all the lessons of love and happiness that a mother would share with her only son, over the days, months, and years of a lifetime. So instead, I will pen only the most important:
    Patience. Be patient with others, but especially with yourself. Life will try to rush you, but do not let it. An extra minute spent to watch the sun set, or to play with a rain drop as it trickles down the windowpane, or to hug your father before you’re off on your next adventure, is the very minute that makes life worth living.
    Laughter. Laugh everyday, and as much as you can. Never at the expense of others, but rather, in communion with them. Life should never become so serious and dreadful that you cannot find it in your heart to laugh and to smile. Good people laugh. Loving people laugh. Happy people laugh.
    Kindness. Be kind. Kindness seems an effort because it is in our nature sometimes to be lazy. So I beseech you my son, don’t be lazy and don’t discriminate when it comes to kindness. What is kindness? Kindness is please and thank you. Kindness is offering a hand when another cannot carry a burden. Kindness is never being cruel to animals. Kindness is unsolicited encouragement. Kindness is paying a compliment when you know someone needs it. Kindness is giving hope instead of advice.
    Love. Love is the most important lesson of all. When you love, be sure to love unconditionally. What does that mean? It means … Love, without doling out judgment. Love, without levying constraints. Love, without expectation. Love, without fear of heartbreak. Love, without self-interest. Love, even when you’re angry. Love, like your father loves you. Love, like I love you now, with all my heart and soul. Know that it was your father’s and my love for one another that brought you into this world and our combined love for you that will see you through even your darkest of days. You will never be alone because you carry our love inside you.
    Know that you had a mother named Kathryn, who carried you inside her. Know that you had a mother named Kathryn who birthed