Heaven Is Never Too
Far.
Her hair was up in a
ponytail, her favourite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably
should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school
alone. But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her
classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried, for her
to face this day alone. And that was why once again, she tried to keep her
daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all, about
a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall
in back, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their
seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class, to introduce their
daddy, as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, every
child turned to stare, each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.
'Where's her daddy at?' she heard a boy call out. 'She probably doesn't have
one,' another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, she
heard a daddy say, 'Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his
day.' The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom, and looked
back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, came words
incredibly unique. 'My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day. And though
you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know, all about my daddy, and how much he
loves me so. He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike, and he
surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share
fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone, and though you cannot see him, I'm not
standing here alone. Because my daddy's always with me, even though we are
apart, I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart. ‘With that, her
little hand reached up, and lay across her chest, feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favourite dress. And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her
mother stood in tears, proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her
years. She stood up for the love of a man not in her life, doing what was best
for her, doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down, staring
straight into the crowd, she finished with a voice so soft, but its message
clear and loud. 'I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star, and if he
could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far. You see he is a soldier and
died just this past year, when a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught the
world to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went
away.' And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her
mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and
children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they saw before
them, who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him
at her side. 'I know you're with me Daddy,' to the silence she called out. And
what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. Not one in
that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed. But there
on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed rose. And a child was
blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the
gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
~~Author Unknown.
