Fulfilling their father’s last wish, two young sisters visit his grave on his birthday, wearing their beautiful new dresses. Beside the gravestone, they discover two neatly wrapped boxes with their names on them, completely unaware of the surprise awaiting inside.

Isla, six years old, and Madison, eight, deeply missed their father, Brian. Since his passing, they no longer snuck cookies and ice cream from the kitchen at night, teamed up to prank their mother, or went shopping together. Without Daddy Brian, those little amusements just weren’t the same anymore.

“You spoil those girls, Brian!” his wife, Linda, used to chide. “Why do you all gang up on me? I know you sneak snacks for your little angels from the pantry!”

“Well, I’ll spoil them for as long as I live!” Brian would reply with a broad grin. “They’ll always be my priority as long as I’m alive! Sorry, my dear, but you’ve got competition now. But you know well that I adore you and my daughters,” he said, giving her a warm hug.

That was Brian for you, always knowing how to keep everything balanced. He was the perfect family man. But after he passed away, everything changed. Isla and Madison became very quiet, while Linda struggled to accept the reality of losing him.

The last memories Linda had with Brian were extremely painful. He died right in front of her, and she felt helpless. Stage four cancer, the doctors said. They commenced treatment promptly and did everything they could for Brian, but the merciless disease prevailed.

Brian passed away one morning, with his daughters having slept by his side in the hospital bed the night before. He had requested Linda to let the girls stay with him that night. Perhaps he sensed it was his last night with his beloved daughters.

After Brian’s passing, Linda couldn’t get her life together, no matter how hard she tried. The girls were stronger than her. At least they attended the funeral. Linda couldn’t bear the thought of him being buried beneath the earth.

“On my birthday, I want my little girls to look their best, and I’m curious about what they’ll wear. Promise me you’ll come and show Daddy your beautiful outfits, girls? See, it might be that Daddy won’t be with you that day, but you must promise me you’ll look your best,” was Brian’s last wish. It was his final plea for the girls to visit him on his birthday.

So, the day before, the girls asked Linda to take them shopping.

“Mommy,” little Isla said, “Daddy loved my red dress. He got me one for my birthday. I want a red dress.”

“You can choose for me, Mommy,” Madison stated. “I want it to be Daddy’s favorite color.”

“I… I don’t think I have time, girls,” Linda tried to avoid the subject. She was still grieving Brian. She wasn’t ready for something that reminded her of the end.

“But we have to visit Daddy!” Isla exclaimed. “He asked me to wear something pretty on his birthday. He asked Madison too.”

Linda’s eyes welled up with tears. She was so overwhelmed with grief; she had forgotten about Brian’s birthday.

“What did he ask from you?” Linda inquired, tears streaming down her face.

“Daddy wanted to see us in pretty dresses on his birthday. We have to visit him, Mommy,” Isla urged. “Hurry! We need to go shopping!”

“When did he tell you this?” Linda asked. “I… didn’t know…” She had no idea about Brian’s last wish.

“The night before he died, Mommy,” Madison revealed. “He held our hands and said he wanted to see us in lovely clothes on his birthday. Mommy, I think we should do this for him. I know you’re upset, but please?” She covered Linda’s ears with her little hands. “I know you miss Daddy, but we have to do this for Isla. She misses Daddy too much.”

Madison had always been a smart girl. She understood things children her age might struggle to grasp. Eventually, she managed to convince Linda to go shopping.

“Alright then,” Linda said. “Let’s get you the prettiest outfits, so Daddy sees what he’s missing out on! He’ll regret leaving us like this!” Linda burst into tears, and the girls hugged her to comfort her.

“Daddy doesn’t want to see you sad, Mommy. I know that…” Madison whispered, gently rubbing her mother’s back.

The next day, on Brian’s birthday, the girls wore their new outfits and held hands as they walked towards Brian’s grave. Linda followed behind them.

Reaching Brian’s gravestone, the girls noticed two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them, with a little sticker on top, saying they were from Brian.

“Mommy!” Isla turned to Linda and announced, “Look, Daddy sent us gifts! He’s such a rascal! Doesn’t he know we’re supposed to give him presents on his birthday?” and she giggled.

Madison gave Linda a look indicating she knew Brian couldn’t have sent those gifts. The departed don’t send presents.

“Well, maybe he missed his girls. Come on, open the boxes, girls,” Linda encouraged with a warm smile.

As the girls unwrapped the boxes, Linda had to hide her tears. Isla beamed with delight, while Madison cried for the first time since Brian passed away.

Inside each box, there was a beautiful pair of Mary Jane shoes and a letter from Brian.

“Shoes!” Isla exclaimed. “They’re so beautiful, Mommy! My favorite color… pink!”

The letter said:

“To my beautiful girls,

Up here in heaven, some angels are amazed at how lovely two little girls can be! They say you’re the most beautiful girls God ever made. Daddy can see how good you look in your dresses. But I wanted to make you even more beautiful, so I got you these shoes. I hope you like them.

You see, Daddy’s not with you, but he’s always there in your hearts. I know my girls don’t eat cookies and ice cream anymore. Don’t tell Mommy, but I know she refilled the pantry with big cookie jars. I saw her doing it. Next time you visit, I want stories about how you sneaked them without Mommy knowing. Just because Daddy’s not there doesn’t mean we won’t tease Mommy! I want my girls to be happy and smile every day. You don’t always have to be good. I’m sure Mommy wouldn’t want that either.

And thank you for visiting me and wishing me a happy birthday, girls. Daddy loves and misses you.

With lots of love for my sweet girls,

Brian.”

“Umm… it’s too much to read!” Isla complained. “Madison, what did Daddy say?”

Madison tightly hugged Isla. “He said he’s happy where he is, Isla, and he wants us to be happy too. He misses us. Thank you for everything, Mommy,” she added, knowing that those boxes were from her mother. “Thank you for bringing us here.”

Linda smiled and whispered, “I love you both,” grateful to the girls for helping her overcome her grief and empowering her to visit Brian.

What can we learn from this story?

Death cannot destroy the bonds built through love. Brian may be far from his family in heaven, but he is always present in their hearts.Mothers always put their children first. Although Linda wasn’t ready to visit Brian, she gathered the courage to do so after seeing how much the girls wanted to visit their father.Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them too.