In one of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books, I found the following story titled “Heart Song.”

Once upon a time, there was a great man who married the woman of his dreams. With their love, they created a little girl. She was a bright and cheerful little girl, and the great man loved her very much.

When she was very little, he would pick her up, hum a tune, and dance with her around the room, and he would tell her, “I love you, little girl.”

When the little girl was growing up, the great man would hug her and tell her, “I love you, little girl.” The little girl would pout and say, “I’m not a little girl anymore.” The man would laugh and say, “But to me, you’ll always be my little girl.”

The little girl, who was not little any more, left home and went into the world. As she learned more about herself, she learned more about the man. She saw that he truly was great and strong, for now she recognized his strengths. One of his strengths was his ability to express his love to his family. It didn’t matter where she went in the world, the man would call her and say, “I love you, little girl.”

The day came when the little girl, who was not so little anymore, received a phone call. The great man was damaged. He had suffered a stroke. The stroke robbed him of his ability to speak, and the doctors weren’t sure if he could understand the words spoken to him.

He could no longer smile, laugh, walk, hug, dance, or tell the little girl, who was not so little anymore, that he loved her.

The not so little girl went to the side of the great man. When she walked into the room and saw him, he looked small and not so strong at all. He looked at her and tried to speak, but he could not.

The little girl did the only thing she could do; she climbed up on the bed next to the great man. Tears ran from both of their eyes, and she put her arms around the useless shoulders of her father. Her head on his chest, she thought of many things. She remembered the wonderful times together, the times he would pick her up, hum a tune, and dance with her around the room and would sing, “I love my little girl.” She always felt safe, protected, and cherished by the great man. She felt grief for the loss she was to endure and the words of love that had comforted her. And then she heard from within the man the beat of his heart; the heart where the music and the words had always lived. The heart beat on steadily, unconcerned about the damage to the rest of the body. And while she rested there, the magic happened. She heard what she needed to hear; his heart beat out the words that his mouth could no longer say… I love you little girl… I love you little girl… I love you little girl!

All Saints’ Sunday, November 3, is a day to remember and celebrate love; the love we have given and received from those who have died in the past year. This year, we remember with love:

Edna “Doris” Mason

Gladys R. Miller

G. Vernon Moore

Mary Ann (Olshinsky) Moore

Darryl Gunnison Odom

Mary Virginia (Zak) Pedee

Kathleen B. Penwell

Charles “Rosey” Rosenfelder

Mary E. “Celie” Tanner

Donald L. Thomas

Suzanne Marie Vastano

William James Vastano

Sergeant Major Richard Bell

James “Jim” N. Canfield III

Frank Samuel Canister, Jr.

Pamela S. Carlton

Maria Elise D’Alessandro

Beverly J. (Schreiner) Daly

Linda L. Dawson

Patricia J. Dougherty

Forman Arthur “Art” Gibson

Lourine Vivian Hayes

Katherine E. Johnson

Barbara McCarthy

Lois M. McDonough

We celebrate the love of our Creator who whispers to each of us, “I love you, for you are mine.” It is this love of our gracious God that reassures us that death does not have the final word; death is not the victor. Death, because of love, is nothing more than a stepping stone from one life to another far greater.

Embrace and cherish the love others hold for you. Never pass up an opportunity to tell others you love them. Most importantly, find hope and comfort in our Creator’s love, for God whispers in each of our ears, “I love you my little girl… my little boy!”

Blessings,
Pastor Russel

Photo by Rob Briscoe