A young girl passed way before her time, but she left something extraordinary for her parents to remember her by. Taylor Smith was only 12 years old when she died suddenly from pneumonia on Jan. 5, but the Tennessee preteen had written a letter to her future 22-year-old self, NBC's "Today" show reports.

Taylor, too excited to keep the precious note a secret, told her mother it was to be opened in 2023. But after her untimely death, her parents Tim and Mary Ellen opened it. They then posted the message on Facebook and it soon went viral. According to the news site, her parents Tim and Mary Ellen hoped it would inspire others.

"Remember, it’s been 10 years since I wrote this. Stuff has happened, good and bad," Taylor wrote. "That’s just how life works, and you have to go with it." The entire note can be read on Facebook.

It certainly has inspired others, her mother told "Today." “[We’ve gotten] letters from lots of parents who’ve said it’s encouraged them to love their kids and love each other.”

Among the things Taylor wanted to know were if “Dr. Who” was still on the air and if she had gone to college. She also reminded herself to stay close to God. Her aunt told the Johnson City Press she "had the wisdom of an adult but the faith of a child."

“I can’t physically resurrect her, I can’t bring her back, but I’m so grateful people have been inspired by her story,” her mother Ellen told NBC. “I just want people to know just what an awesome, awesome person she was,” her father added.

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