Letter to my ex-daughter-in-law

Dear Wendy,

My Dear you have been a part of my life for 9 years. I have watched you grow into a very good mother. I have no doubt you love your children. I just wanted you to know that I love you.

Yes, Sweetie, I love you. It is impossible to pray for someone daily and not love them. I have spent many hours asking YHVH to bless you.

I pray for your good health. You must be healthy to be the best mom you can be for my grandchildren. That is why I paid for your medication and telephone when my son was deep in his addiction and wasn't there. I ask my Father in heaven to keep you healthy.

I pray for your success. When you are successful it is good for my grandchildren. They will share in the benefits of your success with you and they are learning perseverance from your example. I cheered with you when you finished nursing assisting classes and passed your tests. I was so very proud of you. I knew if you hung in there you could do it. And now you are gainfully employed using the education you worked for. Well done.

I pray for your relationship. Yep, I do. When it became apparent that you were moving on, and had no interest in saving your husband or marriage, I decided to pray you find stability in a relationship. Anyone you bring into my grandchildren's lives affects them. So I pray Jimmy is the stability you need. The fewer relationships you have the better. The children need the stability as well. I pray he is good to you. How he treats you is just as important as how he treats the children. It sets examples for them for better or worse. If he is good to you Millie will seek a man who is good to her, and Charlie will treat women well from watching Jimmy's example. Since you have primary custody, Jimmy is a constant presence in the lives of my grandchildren. I pray for him as well.

I seek YHVH about forgiving you. I do have difficulty from time to time. The way our relationship has been so contemptuous has been a bit stressful. I have come to terms with the fact that you have always seen me as an enemy. It will never matter what or how much I do, my generosity will not buy me into your good graces. I am supportive of your parenting and authority over my grandchildren because it is good for them. I would never undermine your place as their mother, but you just can't see that. Bottom line is I pray for you, I love you because I pray for you. All because it is good for my grandchildren.

Yours truly,

Teresa, your ex-mother-in-law