Since I’m on Melody Beattie’s email list, I just received the mass email from her daughter, Nichole, announcing that her momma passed on four days ago. She writes:
On February 27, at 10 pm, just as the new moon fell into Pisces, my beautiful mother, Melody Beattie, passed away. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and loved ones. My mother was never afraid to die. “Why should I be? I’m going to see God, I’ll be reunited with your brother, and I’ll finally get to meet my favorite person, Moses.” Her fearlessness was a great comfort to me in her final weeks. During one of our last conversations, I leaned in close to her and asked, “Where are you going, Mom?” She turned toward me and smiled. “I’m going on a miraculous new adventure.” I’ll miss you. Godspeed, Mel.—Nichole Beattie
Over the years, Melody Beattie has taught me powerful truths that have helped guide and grow me. I will never forget the first time I read her new book, Lessons of Love, in the mid-nineties. I had no idea what lay ahead when I began to read the words about the loss of her young son, Shane, in an accident. Her wrenching words grabbed me by the heart-throat, and I wept harder than I ever had while reading a book.
I had no idea what lay ahead.
Since I am as slow as molasses or Moses or both, it took me until last summer to write to her and thank her for her vast, broken, beautiful heart and sage words—her lessons of love in so many books. I didn’t expect a response, but I got one immediately. She wrote:
Thank you for your lovely note from a heart ripped and wrapped in pain. Idk why humans have to endure that but sometimes we do and still must make sense of life. I SO encourage you to begin writing. Please.
My best,
Melody
June 10, 2024
Thank you for your music, Melody.
I can only begin to imagine the miraculous adventure and reunion–once ripped, wrapped, and now fully, gloriously healed.