Many years ago, neighbors of mine lost a child to a rare genetic disease.  Although she was only a baby when she died, Katherine touched many lives.  I remember vividly seeing her just days before she passed on, lying on a hospital bed, her tiny, lifeless limbs incapable of moving.  Since she was only 9 months old, it was inconceivable to think she understood what was going on, but I took one look into her ageless face and knew in an instant that she was aware of every nuance of her stay here on Earth.  With her blue eyes sparkling right at me and lips turned up in the sweetest smile, I 'heard' her say; "everything is going to be alright."  Encased in a delicate, ailing little body, her spirit was not meant to be here any longer.  Katherine knew it and on a soul level she was trying to convey this.  I remember thinking, "she is talking to me and someday I will know why she made this connection."

The night before the funeral as I lay in bed readying myself for the next day's sad event, I asked the question, "why her?"  Within a second a vision appeared. Looking out through the dark window into the night, I could see a face.  Willowy in the distance and seemingly afloat in the trees, it was almost impossible to make out, but I recognized it as the image of Jesus we see portrayed in countless pictures painted of him.  Although his lips did not move, I received a very clear message, "She is with me and I will take care of her now.  Everything is going to be alright."  The apparition left me shaken but somehow comforted, and I allowed myself to drift off to sleep recognizing the words I heard to be the same as hers just days before. 

The next morning I awoke feeling an enormous amount of love and encouragement.  I ran to my pad and pen and started writing with so much energy and conviction that minutes later I had a poem completely composed.  Even though at that time it was just the beginning of my understanding of spiritual energy, I believed the entire precept was coming from Katherine.  That tiny little person contained an enormous spirit that could transcend my disappointment in her death and any doubt I had about what I could do about it.  She was guiding me to take on a task and I was a very willing participant.

After polishing and editing the last heart-felt stanza, I ran off to the nursery. Initially disenchanted with the selection, I picked up a straggly and poorly maintained tree.  There wasn't much to choose from considering the season, but this tree seemed to speak to me, and I was undaunted.  Just like the poem I was driven to write, this was the tree that was destined to make it to my friend's house.  With very little time left and knowing the family would be at the cemetery, I dropped the tree off.   The poem rolled up like a scroll, was attached to a leafless branch.

Later, I arrived back at the house to visit with the other mourners.  When I approached the father to offer my condolences, he quickly hugged me and said, "Look!  Look at what someone left at our door!"  He reached into his pocket and pulled out the poem, now folded and creased from use.  I looked at his face, lit with hope and realized he had no idea where it came from.  I never wrote my name and intended it to be anonymous fearing they wouldn't understand my intention.  He began pushing the paper toward me and went on to read it aloud when I impulsively grabbed his arm and calling his name, interrupted the recital.  He looked at me with confused, teary eyes as I tried to speak in a whisper, “I know Doug, I know…..  I wrote it." 

Months passed, and then years and I always remembered Katherine in my prayers.  I moved from the neighborhood and lost contact, but when I ran into the family again they assured me Katherine's tree was enormous, strong, and beautiful.  It turns out the scanty little sapling was a flowering pear that blossomed brilliant white flowers every spring.  ‘Who knew’, I said to myself and then realized she did.

In my heart I still knew Katherine had another job for me to do.  I vividly remember the bond I formed with her that day in the hospital and have taken the vision of her knowing look with me for over a decade of my life.  Sure enough, some time later the reason for our spiritual connection was revealed.  In the near future, I will write you about it, but in the meantime, here is Katherine's poem.  You will see it is not signed by me and that is because I cannot take the credit for it.  It was written by a pure, untouched soul who wanted to connect with the World she had to leave so suddenly.  She wants you to pass it on so others will be reminded of how we all live on.  Feel free to change the title of the poem, allowing other children to speak to their loved ones as well.    

With hope and love, D.

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