Chapter 10, april

When I met your husband, he was broken…we both were. At the time, we were not aware of the truly dark place we were in. After a while, that brokenness rose to the surface. He had an expectation for his life. He imagined that he would be married to you, the mother of his children, for the rest of his life. If that had been the case, I would not be writing this letter. It was very hard for him to come back from the hurt that you both endured throughout your marriage.

In the beginning, I resented you for the pain you had caused. He said things out of anger about you, and I believed them. For that, I apologize.

I apologize for jumping to conclusions and gaining my perspective from only one side of the story.

I apologize for the harsh words that have been spoken. If I could take them back, I certainly would.

I apologize for any hurt I have caused you.

You two were not meant for one another, God had a different plan. You two were, however, meant to create life.

You created three precious little humans. For that, I thank you.

Thank you for allowing me to help you raise them and watch them grow.

Thank you for including me in precious milestones and special events.

Thank you for trusting that I will always protect them, just as you do.

I promise you that I will always make them say their prayers. I will put their needs above my own, I will always respect them, and I will always take care of them. I promise to love them just as you do.

I would like to apologize for any time I have overstepped or asserted myself too strongly. You see, being a mother myself, it was only natural to do the same with your children as I do with my own. There is no shut off switch for moms.

When I married their father, I saw you as someone that was in extreme pain. You were not the person I first met – vibrant, wild, and free. Something changed, and I watched you lose yourself briefly. I did what I thought was right, I tried to fix everything. I thought if I just took care of those babies, you would have the chance to heal and find yourself again. At the time, I believed that was the right thing to do.

For us, I pray.

I pray that throughout the years to come, you and I build a strong bond. I pray that we set a great example of love, forgiveness, and unity for all our children. I pray we never go back to that dark place we were once in, and I know that with God’s help we never will!

I pray that we share love and happiness.

Thank you.

Thank you for your patience, forgiveness, and friendship.

Thank you for supporting me, lifting me up, and laughing with me.

Thank you for giving me three extra little men to love.

Most importantly, thank you for giving me my one true love, the man that has made me believe in happy endings and new beginnings.

I promise to be true to him, to cherish him, and laugh with him.

I promise to guard his heart.

I promise to support his dreams and never give up on him.

I promise to respect him.

I promise to love him unconditionally, always and forever.

To the wife before me,

Thank you for giving me my husband.