Motherhood has once been likened to the greatest power in the universe, and it’s not hard to see why. As these three famous letters from mothers clearly show, a mother’s love, insight, and wisdom are never lost; rather, they are passed down from one generation to the next and continue to change the world to this day. Following are three particularly inspiring letters from past mothers that are well worth the read even today.
From Abigail Adams to her Son, John Quincy Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, one of America’s founding fathers who later went on to become the nation’s second president. However, when she wrote to her son John, the United States was still fighting a war of independence against England. Her letter urges her son to follow in his father’s footsteps and get a good education in France, and it is replete with insight into the formation of character during difficult times. Abigail Adams closes the letter by urging her son to “honour your country” and “render your parents supremely happy.”
Abigail Adams didn’t see her son for four years after penning her letter, but history clearly shows that he took her advice to heart. John Quincy Adams went on to become the sixth President of the United States and later become a vocal anti-war and anti-slavery activist dedicated to bringing about the day “when slavery and war shall be banished from the face of the Earth”.
From Clare Booth Luce to Her Daughter Ann
Clare Booth Luce, a beautiful woman wed to a millionaire, could have lived her life in wealth and ease, but that simply was not in her nature. Rather, she became a versatile author, outspoken political activist, and later a congresswoman. She played in an integral role in creating the Atomic Energy Commission, toured Allied battlefronts in Europe during World War 2, and was even present for the liberation of several Nazi concentration camps near the end of the war. However, her letter to Ann contains no word of her political activism. Instead, she offers advice on her only daughter’s first relationship and tells her that, instead of focusing on her studies, she should “get what little happiness there is out of life in this war-torn world.”
From Maya Angelou to the Daughter She Never Had
Acclaimed writer and civil rights activists Maya Angelou never had a daughter, but she cared deeply about the challenges young women faced growing up. To this end, she penned “Letters to my Daugther”, a heart-warming book of essays that has inspired girls the world over. These famous letters are not only online but can easily be found in book form from Amazon and other booksellers.
Having grown up dealing with multiple challenges in life, it is no surprise that Angelou focuses heavily on what to do in difficult circumstances. She urges readers to not be reduced by events, avoid complaining and look for ways to help others and be a positive influence in society. She also admonishes readers to change their way of thinking if they are unable to change their circumstances.
While the world has changed immensely since these famous letters were penned, the words of advice, counsel, and encouragement they contain are just as relevant now as they were when the letters were first written. The mothers of times past clearly knew what it felt like to grow up and what a young woman would need in order to succeed in life long-term, and their insight continues to bless the world to this day.
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