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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Valentine (05/16/05)
There are some times in life when we wish we could have had a chance to spend time with someone special. There are times we look back and think how wonderful it could have been to share special moments and holidays with someone who is a part of our family or even just a special friend. As time goes on, we realize that life is short and every moment is a gift from God.

This Valentine’s Day I wanted to do something special fro my brother who died the day after he was born. My brother, Ryan, had a heart defect when he was born and only lived one day. I wanted him to know that even though we never got to spend our lives growing up together that he would always be a wonderful part of me. As I was driving to his graveside in the mountains of North Carolina, I looked over to my side to make sure that I not only brought beautiful flowers to decorate his grave with but also a sweet Valentine’s Day card that was filled with my personal sentiments. It seems customary to bring those who have passed before us flowers, but very seldom do we take the time to give a heartfelt card.

I have always loved Valentine’s Day because it is one day that so many people express their love to those special people in their lives. As a child, I have always gotten Valentine’s Day cards from my family and friends. However, I realized that in my 20 years of life I had never done anything really special for my sweet brother who would have been a year older than me had he lived.

As I walked to his graveside, I knelt down before him and opened the Valentine’s Day card. The front of the card had the words, For Someone Special….I Want to Say I Love You. When I opened the card, I read Ryan the following words:

“Dear Ryan, I want to say Happy Valentine’s Day. I want you to know that I love you and am so sorry that we never got a chance to really know each other. On this Valentine’s Day and always, may you never forget that you are loved. As you look down upon me reading this card from Heaven, please know you mean so much to me.

I love you because God made you special. You came into this world not knowing your own fate, yet you held on for one day so mom and dad could hold you. When you were born the angels started singing such a sweet melody because you fought so hard to live one more day. I know you gasped for those last moments of breath and wanted so much to live an abundant life. The day you died was such a tragedy to the family and yet even in that tragedy we all to this day struggle to know why your life was so short here on this Earth. I want you to know my brother, that I love you and wish all these things for you on this Valentine’s Day and always.

I wish you the continued love of God so that you know He is always with you even when you feel alone. I wish you the continued love of mom and dad so that each day they can hold onto that moment that you came into their lives and warmed their hearts with your innocent touch. I wish you the strong love of friendship so that even though you never had a chance to make a friend you will know just how powerful the bonds of friendship can really be. I wish you the beauty of romance so that you can feel what is like to love someone so much they complete you even if they remain in your life for a short time or forever. I wish you the love of a successful career so that you know what it feels like to dedicate your life to something that fulfills your passion. Most of all, I wish you divine love so that everyday you will appreciate the special ways god loves us all even when we do not deserve it.

Dear brother…I love you and hope that this Valentine’s Day card always expresses the depth of my devotion and gratitude to you.” Love always, Heather
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Debra Bowers
05/24/05
Beautiful thing to do. May all your wishes come true.
Deborah Porter 
06/01/05
Heather, what a sweet thing to do. Quite a lovely valentine. I don't think anyone who has never had this happen in their own family would understand the importance of keeping that precious member alive in the hearts and memories of the other family members. I have a friend who had their little son die in much the same way, after much the same amount of time. They have had three little girls since then, and each year on the Ben's birthday they do something special as a tribute to him. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to read your story. I actually don't get to read many Challenge entries, due to my workload, and was only popping in her to let you know that you need to keep an eye out when you submit your entries and not leave your name in the body of the submission. I removed it when I saw it, but the entries are meant to be anonymous so that there isn't even the vaguest possibility that a judge could be swayed to favor someone they knew. So if you can just make sure you check your entries in future to make sure your name is left off, that would be great. Love, Deb

Deborah Porter 
06/01/05
Whoops - probably should have said that I was the Challenge Coordinator, otherwise my comment about removing your name probably won't have made a whole lot of sense. Love, Deb