Once
upon a time there was a great man who married the woman of his dreams.
With their love, they created a 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 any more." Then 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 her home and went into
the world. As she learned more about herself, she learned more about the
man. 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 little-anymore received a
phone call. The great man was damaged. He had had a stroke. He couldn't
talk, smile, laugh, walk, hug, dance or tell the little girl who-was-not-little-anymore
that he loved her.
And so she went to the side of the great man. When she walked into the
room and saw him, he looked small and not 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, and drew
her arms around the useless shoulders of her father.
Her head on his chest, she thought of many things. She remembered she had
always felt protected and cherished by the great man. She felt grief for
the loss she was to endure, the words of love that had comforted her.
And then she heard from within the man, the beat of his heart. 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... and she was comforted.
Patty Hansen