Legacy Letters

Seven pink envelopes, addressed in Wanda Taylor's spiky handwriting, represented her legacy to seven people she held dear. Legacy letters—that's what they were. A last gift, though some might call it interference. People often sought her advice and her God-given gift of discernment. But not these seven, and her heart ached for them. They were good people who loved God and their families, but she saw patterns in their lives that could harm them in the future if left unchecked. Monica was the lynch pin to the entire project. The mantle of the matriarch fit her, and everyone in the family recognized it. But she needed to learn how to let go before she could take charge. Monica would receive the first letter, one month after Wanda's death. The others—to friends, siblings, children and grandchildren—would receive their letters in the six months following. Wanda sealed the last letter and whispered a prayer. "Lord, use my words a final time to do Your work in the lives of those I leave behind."