Daughter frames her late dad’s final words at home — and it’s a quiet lesson on what really matters in life

Losing a parent creates a void that never fully heals — no matter how much time you have, it never feels like enough. You wish for five more minutes, one last hug, or even a few final words, something, anything, to hold onto when everything else feels like it's slipping away. For Anna Harp (@fairyontheprairie on Instagram), that connection came in the form of a handwritten note her father left before he passed. Now framed and displayed above the entrance of her home, that message has become a permanent part of the space her family moves through every day. In a video shared to Instagram, Anna explained that the piece is a 3D-printed replica of her father's last written words, created shortly after his passing.

The video shows the note placed in a wooden frame above a doorway, "I love having it here as a reminder of the kind of person he was and the life he lived." The note, brief and handwritten, reads, "It has been such a good life." She thanked the maker of the frame in the caption, saying, "Forever grateful to @momentsgrove for making this for us right after my dad passed!" Anna’s way of preserving her father’s final words reflects a deeper truth about how we try to cope with parental loss. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found that losing a parent, especially during formative years, can lead to lasting effects on mental health and even long-term stability in adulthood. That kind of grief, particularly when unspoken or unsupported, can shape a person’s entire future.

The post resonated with others who have experienced the loss of a parent, with many sharing their own memories and the longing to have something similar. @sarahwildmothering commented, "One of the last things my Nan said to my mum before she passed: 'I’ve had a beautiful life, dear.'" @rachelnb42 wrote, "This made me burst into tears. I'd do anything for one little last note from my dad. He died in November unexpectedly. The most painful experience of my life." @coolgalreading shared, "My dad died six years ago in January, and his handwriting looked like this before he passed. It's been six years, and it still hits so hard. This just gutted me, but it's also so beautiful." @mellyhewi_ pointed out, "It’s so nice to know that before he passed, all he could think of was how good his life was!"

@wigglesmom7 added, "Oh, how I wish I had one. Two days before my husband passed, he motioned he wanted to write. I gave him a whiteboard, but by then, he just scribbled. I’ll never know what he wanted to say." @mellyhewi_ said, "It’s so nice to know that before he passed, all he could think of was how good his life was!" @gwenstiles1 commented, "My dad passed away when I was 18, but I have his letters and poems to me framed in my kitchen. It’s the best reminder of who he was." @kerri.loveee shared, "Damn. This is my dad's song. He passed in 2018, and I'm getting his written words tattooed over my heart. This is really hitting me!" 

You can follow Anna Harp (@fairyontheprairie) on Instagram for more daily life content.