Lai Tu Diep

My mom Lai Tu Diep transcended her physical form on Jan 22nd. She was 78 years young. In life, we can be so fortunate and have someone not only instill love in us, but equip us with lenses that can see the love that reverberates around us. Similar to how my mom would clean and place the glasses on my face as a boy, she blessed me to be able to see life through the lense of love. I was given a gift to see how we are all connected. Through love.

Woven and spindled, the fabric of love connects us, an intricate web of souls. If one of us feels suffering, the vibration can be felt through the web. We receive signals and have the wavelengths sent back to let the suffering know that we feel them. And feel for them.

My mom continues to be a gift. She fought through the devastating injury of a major heart attack to regain consciousness. She fought until her little heart could not give anymore. Our family feels such gratitude that we were able to have a few days of precious time with her at the end.

Lai taught us that amongst all the pain we face in this world, our greatest gift is to be able to cling onto this web and help bare the weight of the suffering for others. This little time let my mom see her favorite person, her grandson Nolan, sing to her for the last time. She even managed a little strength to sing back.

Lai Diep was the matriarch of our entire family. She travelled thousands of miles and past many hardships to cast our web here in the United States. She rebuilt a broken clan, shattered by war. She was a natural teacher and taught people to look for the goodness of things. She nurtured the good in those she loved. She will forever be our compass. Should we stray, we will undoubtedly see her presence in our lenses to steer us back. Strength was taught not only as the ability to withstand the hardship that befalls us, but the ability to hold the line for those not able to carry alone.

There is a special, special place in heaven for Lai. She leaves two sons, a husband and a grandson who all can only hope to one day earn a place next to her.