My mother, Enidia Rinaldi, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2016. When I was visiting her in April of that year, we went to a lake to spend some time together.

We prayed, meditated, and asked each other questions. During this time she said she had written a song about life after death about 18 years ago and had never shared it with anyone. She knew all the words even though she had lost the notebook where she had written down the lyrics. She also remembered the melody. She told me that it was not complete and that she was entrusting me to produce it. She also requested that her friend and singer-songwriter, Leonor Dely, sing the song.

My mother intended this song to be a cumbia: a lively folkloric Colombian rhythm which blends the country's African heritage, indigenous traditions, and Spanish influences. My mom said she wrote this song so that people could have a different perspective on life after death and would even dance to a song with a subject which traditionally is considered "sad."

She was no doubt inspired by this quote from the Bahá'í Writings:

O SON OF THE SUPREME! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?

Throughout the remaining months of 2016, Leonor Dely, my mom, and I worked on the arrangement. We weren't able to advance that much due to my mom's health and Leonor and her husband's health. My mom passed away on Nov. 7, 2016. She was surrounded by prayer and song offered by her husband, 3 children and spouses, all 7 grandchildren, and two of her best friends from childhood.

In order to continue working on the song, I decided to hire other professional musicians who could help us complete it. I hired Andrea Diaz to finish composing the melody the song and give it that true cumbia feel. Andrea is a talented composer/musician connected to some of the country's top folkloric musicians. She got a group of musicians together to rehearse the song and finally to record it.

In the song, you can hear the love and passion each musician put into it. It was a very consultative process to get the song to turn out the way it did.

My mom's wish was for this song to be an instrument of hope and joy for those who have lost a loved one. Please share the song with those who you think can benefit from it's inspiring message.

- Daniel Badí Rinaldi