Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite 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 too
meet.
Children were squirming impatiently, anxious in their
seats.
One by one the teacher called, a student from the class to
introduce her daddy.
As seconds slowly passed, at last the teacher called her
name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, for 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 too 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 too
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.
He surprised me with pink roses, he taught me how 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.
"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we
are apart.
I know because he told me, he'd forever be in my
heart."
With that her little hand reached up, and lay across her
chest.
Feeling her own heart beat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood
in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her
years.
For 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 was a fireman and died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers, and taught Americans to
fear.
"But sometimes when I close my eyes, its 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 daddy's 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 your 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 pink 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.
not mine, but i love this.
<3