Meenakshi's Legacy

"When we have our babies, they don't come with a guarantee of how long we will have them." – Niti, November 2007

I’ve written to many of you asking that you pray for Meena, Niti, Rohit, Kavi, and Jaya, and so many of you have responded with words of faith, love and earnest prayer. I ask you to continue to pray for Niti, Rohit, Kavi, and Jaya, and their entire family as they search for comfort and peace as they let Meena go into the hands of God.

"We have already received 113 miracles." – Niti, June 2008

No matter how difficult the news or message, Niti’s words were always full of gratitude. Gratitude for the prayers that were being sent up on behalf of her family, gratitude for the kindness friends, family, and neighbors showed, but mostly gratitude for the time they had with each other.

I remember reading that sentence – Niti sent it out shortly after Jaya’s birth. I thought “113 miracles. What have I missed?” As I continued reading, I found that 113 days had passed since her last update. She was celebrating and giving thanks for each day – each miracle – that she’d had with her family. I was embarrassed that I didn’t immediately realize it. Embarrassed because I had taken those days for granted. I wasn’t acknowledging my miracles. I was letting them pass me by. I counted that recognition as one of the miracles that I experienced last year. It was a gift from Meena.

"Rohit and I have chosen to leave Meenakshi's therapy in the hands of God. We want Meenakshi to be whole and enjoy her life with us to the fullest." – Niti, February 2008

“We put her into the tub and while we bathed her, she looked me in the eyes and said, “Mommy, I will never leave you.” I looked at her in amazement and she looked very carefully into my eyes and said,” I promise”. She told Rohit about her promise to me when he came into the bathroom also…. I know in my heart that she is a Goddess or some amazing Angel directly from God. “ – Niti, September 2009

Meena was an angel – a true agent of God. She made the world around her more perfect, and through her, we were able catch a glimpse of ourselves as God would really have us to be. She inspired us to be more faithful, courageous, appreciative, gracious, and joyous. And she did this for everyone who heard her story. Through her, we witnessed the act of faith in its most perfect form. Countless people from all over the world, from all different faiths lifted Meena up in prayer. We were a single body working through faith for a single purpose, and it was powerful and beautiful.

We also witnessed love in its most perfect form. Niti and Rohit have loved their children the way children are meant to be loved. They guided their family through this journey with amazing strength, compassion, love, and mercy. According to Sister Rosiland Picot, “the Hebrew word for mercy is ' hesed'. It literally means 'womb love'. The love that a child experiences in the womb. It provides nourishment, and nurturing, and warmth and protection, and dignity, and a sense of hospitality before the child bursts forth into another form of life.”

Sister Picot’s words resonate with me because I feel like they perfectly describe what Niti and Rohit have done for each of their children. By living in faith, gratitude and joy, they prepared Meena for her journey and equipped Kavi and Jaya with what they need to fight through this impossible time. It is a gift to witness this kind of love and a reminder of the kind of caretakers we should be for God’s most precious gifts – our children.

“ Let us celebrate life not just by throwing a party, but also by following a correct path and enjoying every moment with our friends, loved ones and the community around us.” Niti, September 2009

I wrote to you a few days ago about Niti’s strength and the words she’s shared through this experience. She shared them – descriptions of her most intimate and difficult struggle - openly and unselfishly. They are the manifestation of the faith, strength, love, and gratitude that she, Rohit, Kavi, Jaya, and Meena all possess. They are our reminders.

I celebrate Meenakshi’s life and journey because I know her life and journey made a difference in how so many of us live our lives. Hers is a rich legacy of joy, laughter, gratitude, fortitude, and courage. She promised never to leave Niti, and I believe that her promise will be kept. I believe her promise was even broader than she was able to articulate. I believe Meena will never leave any of us, and that we are forever changed, and better because she touched our lives. So much for a little girl to give, yes? And yet, she did.

I encourage you to honor Meena’s legacy by remembering her journey and Niti’s words.


Please remain in prayer for the Mathur and Bali families.