Bethany's Story: Mother's Letter To Bethany (placed on coffin)

March 11, 2005

Dear Bethany,

You can not fathom how much I love you or how much I am going to miss you. I will forever miss your smile, your laughter, your warm embraces and the way you always said, “I love you” before you hung up the phone.

I will miss sharing a mocha freeze with you at Borders, going to the mall, and putting up the Christmas tree together. I will miss planning the wedding we were going to do soon and helping you decorate the new apartment you were going to get. Most of all I will miss being with you when you had your first child, something every mother looks forward to. There will always be an ache in my hearrt and an empty chair at our Thanksgiving table.

Bethany, it’s true there were times you broke our hearts... but dad and I never stopped loving you, and we always forgave you before you asked... and if we as earthly parents have that kind of love, how much more does our heavenly father whose love and forgiveness knows no bounds, and whose grace “pours down like rain.” Because of His infinite mercy I have the hope of seeing you in Heaven. I no longer dread death Bethany, because I can not wait to see you again.

This is the last time I will tell you “Good night” sweetheart.

Love,
Mom

About The Author

Sharon Rivas had been living an ordinary life. She was married to a wonderful husband and had three beautiful children. They had worked hard and were finally able to build a new home which they surprised their children with for Christmas in 2001. They were involved in church, had good jobs and their family was healthy. Life was perfect . . . until God woke her up March 6, 2005 and told her that her daughter was going to die. A phone call at 3:00AM confirmed what God had said. Her oldest daughter, Bethany, had been killed in a drunk driving accident.

That night her world changed forever. It would never be perfect, or ordinary, again. Just ten months later her surviving daughter, Kristin, who was struggling with the pain and depression of her sister’s death and a broken engagement, attempted suicide.

Once more God warned Sharon to leave work and go home because her daughter’s life was in danger. Kristin hovered between life and death for days and Sharon stayed at her side around the clock. As she sat waiting in the hospital room she cried out to God with questions. His answers suddenly took her life in a new direction.

She now speaks for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) at schools and Florida Highway Patrol classes for drunk drivers. She was also asked by an editor to publish her story and has writen a book which is tentatively scheduled for release in late 2011 or 2012.

She has personally experienced the search for God’s will and discovered that money and success do not guarantee you happiness, yet you can have true meaning and joy in your life even with tragedy and loss.

If you would like to contact Sharon, you may write her at her e-mail address, sharonrivas@cfl.rr.com.