In fulfilling their father’s final wish, two young sisters visit his grave on his birthday, dressed in their lovely new dresses. To their surprise, they find two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them beside the gravestone, not knowing what was inside.

Six-year-old Isla and eight-year-old Madison dearly missed their father, Brian. Ever since he left this world, they no longer sneaked cookies or ice cream from the kitchen at night, teamed up to playfully pester their mom, or enjoyed trips to the mall. Without Daddy Brian, those moments lost their sparkle.

“You’re spoiling these girls, Brian!” his wife, Linda, would often chide him. “Why do you all gang up against me? I know you’re the one sneaking treats for your little angels!”

“Well, I’ll spoil them for the rest of my life!” Brian would reply with a broad smile. “They will always come first for me as long as I live. Sorry, dear, but you’ve got competition. But you know I adore you and all my girls,” he would say, hugging her.

Brian had a way of balancing things. He was the perfect family man. After his passing, something changed. Isla and Madison became quieter, and Linda tried to cope with the loss in her own way.

Linda’s last memories of Brian were painful. He passed away before her eyes, and she couldn’t help him. Stage four cancer, the doctors had said. They followed all the recommended treatment, but the merciless disease prevailed.

Brian left one morning, with the girls sleeping beside him in the hospital bed the night before. He had asked Linda to let them stay with him. Perhaps he knew it was his last night with his little angels.

After Brian’s death, Linda found it hard to pull herself together, despite her efforts. The girls were stronger than her — at least they attended the funeral. Linda couldn’t bear the thought of him being buried under the ground.

Brian’s last wish was for his birthday to see his girls look their best and for them to promise to visit him and show him their beautiful outfits. “I may not be with you, but you must promise to look your best,” he had said.

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

“Mommy,” six-year-old Isla said excitedly, “Daddy loved my red dress. He bought it for my birthday. I want a red dress.”

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

“I… I don’t think I have the time, girls,” Linda tried to evade the topic. Still mourning Brian, she wasn’t ready for reminders of the end.

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

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

“What did he say to you?” Linda choked, tears cascading down her cheeks.

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

“When did he ask you this?” Linda was curious. “I didn’t… didn’t know…” Linda had no idea about Brian’s final wish.

“The last night before he passed, Mommy,” Madison revealed gently. “He held our hands and said he wanted to see us in nice outfits for his birthday. I think we should do this for him. I know you’re upset, but please?” She covered Linda’s ears with her small hands. “I know you miss Daddy, but we have to do this. Isla misses him a lot.”

Madison had always been a perceptive little girl. She grasped what others her age would find difficult to comprehend. Eventually, she managed to persuade Linda to go shopping.

“Alright then,” Linda finally relented. “Let’s get you the prettiest outfits so Daddy can see what he’s missing by not being here! He’ll regret leaving us like this!” Linda said, breaking into tears, and the girls hugged her, comforting her.

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

The next day, on Brian’s birthday, the girls wore their new outfits and held hands as they made their way to Brian’s grave. Linda followed closely behind.

Standing before Brian’s gravestone, they noticed two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them, a small sticker above indicating they were from Brian.

“Mommy!” Isla squealed, “Look, Daddy sent us gifts! He’s so silly! Doesn’t he know we’re the ones who are supposed to give him presents?” She giggled.

Madison gave Linda a look of understanding, aware that Brian couldn’t have sent the gifts. The deceased don’t send gifts.

“Well, maybe he just missed his little girls. Go on, open the boxes, girls,” Linda encouraged them with a smile.

As the girls unwrapped the boxes, Linda had to hide her tears. Isla beamed with delight, while Madison began to weep for the first time since Brian’s passing.

Inside each box was a stunning pair of Mary Janes and a letter from Brian.

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

The letter read:

“My dearest, most beautiful girls,

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

You see, Daddy isn’t with you physically, but I’m always there, in your hearts. I know you’re not sneaking cookies or ice cream anymore. Don’t tell Mommy, but I saw her refilling the pantry with big boxes of cookies. I was watching her do it. Next time you visit, I want to hear about how you succeeded in sneaking them without Mommy knowing. Just because Daddy isn’t there doesn’t mean we won’t have fun with Mommy!

I want my girls to be happy and smile every single day. You don’t always have to be angels; I’m sure Mommy doesn’t want that, either.

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

With much love to my sweet girls,

Brian.”

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

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

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

What can we take away from this heartfelt story?

Death cannot sever the bonds made through love. Brian may be away in the heavens, but he remains ever-present in his family’s hearts. Mothers always prioritize their children. Despite being unready to visit Brian’s grave, Linda found the courage after seeing how much her daughters wanted to visit their father.

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