Dear Future Children,

I hope that this letter finds you in a world that is better than the world that I live in now. Before you are born, I am working to make this world a better place for you than it was for me because you deserve it. As unreasonable as it may sound, I hope that when you turn on the news at night, you only see peaceful headlines. I hope that you don't know fear or hunger or hopelessness like so many children in the world today. I pray that war and violence is just a thing of the past instead of a reality of the present. I hope that school and learning is something that you look forward to, not dread. Even before you are born, I have a responsibility to you. I have a responsibility to make a positive influence this cold, hostile, scary world now so that it is ready for you one day. I don't have the power to protect you from the world once you are here, at least not forever, but by prayer and example and hard work, I can try to eliminate the things that you will need to be protected from now.

I hope that there is peace and joy in your hearts as you read my words. One day, I hope that you see that I lived my life to the best of my ability because once your beautiful selves come along, everything will change. You will be my number one concern in life. Nothing else will matter as much as you and my life will no longer be my own. I will live for you rather than myself. This is something that I look forward to one day because I saw others do it for me my entire life.

I grew up watching my own mother putting her needs and happiness after my own. Her every action was selfless. I can think of at least a hundred things that make her a completely selfless mother and not one that would make her a selfish one. She amazes me every day and I want to inspire you in the same way.

And then there is my grandmother whom I have never even met. She died before I was born but I have heard enough stories to know that she set a selfless example for my mother who is now setting one for me. My grandmother gave brith to eight children besides my mom which is the most selfless thing a woman can do. She gave her very body for my mother, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins, myself, and one day, you. Her heart, after the birth of nine children, failed, and I was unable to thank the mother who made my life possible.

So you see, my sweet future children, I have a responsibility to you, even before you are born because mothers have the ability to change the future by their selfless lives. My life was only made possible by the lives of my mother and grandmother. I come from a long line of selfless woman who made my life possible and I want to be like them. I want to be the same selfless inspiration that they have always been to me. So even before you are born, I want to prepare this world and myself to receive you, just like my mothers did for me.

Love,

Your Future Mother