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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write something suitable for CHILDREN (05/31/07)
Six-year-old Shelly was having a great time playing with her dolls in the shade of the large oak tree, near the front porch. She heard her mommy call her name, so she went bounding up the steps to see what she wanted.

“Yes, mommy?”

“This isn’t easy for me to say honey, and it will probably make you very sad. You know that your grammy has been very sick for a long time.”

“Yes, Mommy, but we prayed and Jesus is gonna make her better!”

“I know we prayed, sweetheart, I know… but…”

“Grammy just has to get better, Mommy! She just has too!”

“No, Shelly, Grammy won’t be getting better. She, she died this earlier this morning. She’s in – in heaven with Jesus now.” Her eyes were filled with tears.

Shelly’s eyes filled with tears too and she just stood there. She’d never felt this way before. Her body was heavy and it felt like she couldn’t move. “Oh Mommy! Why did Grammy have to die? I wanted her to stay here with me for always and always. She loved me! I loved her. She was my best friend!”

While Shelly was still speaking her mommy took her in her arms, holding her close. Stroking her hair, she said, “I don’t know why Grammy had to die. I know you will miss her. We all will.”

Shelly pushed away from her mommy and ran down the steps. She was so mad! Why did God have to go and take her grammy? She ran to the barn and up into the hayloft where she often went to just be by herself or where she and her older brother Tommy, would sit and just be together. He was twelve and he was so smart! She loved talking to him about things because he always listened and had great answers for her many questions.

She was surprised to find him up in the hayloft – and he was CRYING.
His whole body was shaking.

“T-tommy?” You know about Grammy?”

He looked up at her from where he was laying on a mound of hay. His eyes were red and puffy and his face was streaked with dirt and tears. His gaze was soft as he looked at his little sister, usually so spunky and full of life. He knew the sadness she was feeling. “Come ‘ere.”

She flew into his open arms and sobbed her little heart out. “Why did Grammy have to die? It’s not fair!!! She was my best friend, next to you, and, and, oh Tommy, it’s just not fair!” Tommy put his arms around her and held her.

“I know it’s hard Sis, she was my best friend too. Grammy was, well, she was special. I’ll miss her so much!”

Shelly raised her tear-stained face and looked up at Tommy, and her heart went out to him. She snuggled against him again, and patted his arm. “I’m sorry Tommy. What can we do? I’m so sad. I’ve never felt this way before.”

“Well, we can cry – it’s OK to cry ya know. God knows we’re sad, and the Bible says He collects our tears in a bottle.” (i)

“Really?” Shelly looked at him with wide-eyed wonder. She smiled a little. “God cares that much about us?”

“Yeah, Sis, He does. He really does.”

“And Grammy’s in heaven, huh? So we’ll see her again some day…”

“We sure will! Won’t that be great?”

“Yeah!” Shelly wiped her tears and reached up to wipe her brother’s tears too. She loved him so much. “I hope YOU never die, Tommy.”

He looked at her, his eyes sad, “I hope you don’t either, Sis, but right now let’s think of something we can do to always remember Grammy by.”

“I have an idea! Let’s ask Mommy and Daddy if we can buy a rose bush to plant by the porch so we can remember her!”

“Yeah! That’s a great idea!”

A few months later the rosebush Shelly and Tommy bought to remember their Grammy was in full bloom by the front porch. Its pink blossoms always reminded them of how gentle and kind she always was and how she took an interest in their lives, never tiring of hearing about their days.

She would always be missed, but her memory would live in their hearts and the rosebush reminded them, too, that some day they would see their Grammy, who they loved so much, in heaven again some day.

(i) Psalm 56:8
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This article has been read 1084 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Emily Blakely
06/07/07
Wait, gotta get a kleenex. Ok, now I can write. Really a good story, very tender. I liked the Scripture reference and the rosebush memorial. Blessings.
Loretta Leonard
06/08/07
This is such a tender story and illustrates just how much children are affected by the loss of a loved one. The rose bush idea was a super suggestion. My Grandma always had a pink rose bush near the porch so this brought back memories.
Loren T. Lowery
06/09/07
Right on target for helping to explain the passing of loved ones to children. I lked the idea of the rose bush as a rememberence and your Biblical reference is a favorite of mine, too.
Good job!
Myrna Noyes
06/09/07
This is a sweet story of loss and remembrance. I like the rosebush reminder. It is a great visual memorial that children can find comfort in. Good writing! :)
Jacquelyn Horne
06/10/07
Good accounting of children being able to accept death. Many will need to read this.
Jan Ackerson
06/12/07
This is great for grieving children!

I think the last paragraph is perhaps not necessary--leave with the pink blossoms reminding them of grammy.

This would be handy for those who counsel very young children.
Kristen Hester
06/12/07
Very sweet. It reminded me of conversations I had with my children when my grandmother died.
Rita Garcia
06/12/07
Precious story, now I need a tissue. Grammys are special, indeed. You brought back fond memories of mine!
Joanne Sher 
06/13/07
Very sweet and warm and wonderful! Choked me up. My only suggestion is to give some sort of "reason", for lack of a better word, that she picked a rosebush. Did grammy always bring roses to them? Were they her favorite flower? Was her name Rose?
Again, this was so sweet and tender, and your voice was right on.
Janice Fitzpatrick
06/13/07
Love it! This is very touching anf would be very good I think too for children who need to grasp about death and their feelings of sadness. I really think that FW needs to send each of us a carton of kleenex though each month for all of the tears that so many of these lovely heart warming stories and poetry bring.:0) LOL. I agree with the last response that maybe somewhere put briefly what coonection in memory the rosebush will have with grandma. Other than this your story is WELL DONE! Sniff-(I have to go to the store with the sniffles and teary eyes.:0) ) Beautiful hon, just beautiful.God bless your gift.Janice
Verna Cole Mitchell 
06/13/07
An excellent story to share with grieving children. I especially liked the character of the big brother.