“I don’t think I can keep going,” I told my daughter.
We were mid-chapter, and the story had taken an abrupt turn. The bright little girl, so full of hope and life and love, was minutes from receiving devastating news. She would have to trade in her pink satin birthday frock for a black dress of mourning. In an instant, her day of celebration would become one of unbearable grief. The life she’d known as an adored, lavished-upon daughter was to be no more. Unbeknownst to her, the little girl’s father had died. Fate had left her a penniless orphan. Life would never be the same.
I’ve been present when such devastating news has been delivered. When the hot coal of truth was passed to a child, searing the tender soul and leaving an indelible scar. I remember wanting to stretch those last moments of blissful naivety into years, where innocence could romp and play through the fields of childhood. Yet the hard realities of the world had intervened. I had no control. The truth had changed life’s landscape forever.
The real world is one thing, a story quite another. In the world of ink on paper, I possess the power to freeze time. With the closing of a book, heartache and evil can be kept at bay. I didn’t want to read further. I wanted to prolong the party, taking note of every detail, and basking in the enjoyment of fanciful dresses, the bounty of refreshments, and the crowning present – a beautiful doll, complete with a wardrobe fit for a princess. My heart dropped. I couldn’t bear what would happen in the next few minutes. It was all too familiar.
“But we have to go on, Mom,” she said to me. “We can’t just quit, or we’ll never know what happens. It has to get better. We just have to get through the hard part.”
My girl’s steadfast words spoke volumes.
We’ve been at this juncture before. When Tacy’s baby sister dies. When Elizabeth Ann must leave the safe, protected world of her Aunt Harriet and Cousin Frances to live with strangers who felt like foreigners. When the cholera outbreak in India leaves Mary Lennox an orphan.
As we’ve walked with these characters-turned-friends through valleys of grief and hardship, a pattern has developed: Life is as it should be. What feels like unbearable hardship interrupts. Provision is made. Adjustments occur. Life, although not what was expected, continues. Like a river quietly cutting a path through stone, with time and repetition, such a pattern is engraved into the heart’s memory,
As my daughter’s insistence to continue reading nudged me out of my sentimental stupor, I was reminded. Of the power of story. Of the unexpected turns in life. Of the truth of redemption. Of a Storyteller who is often unpredictable, yet always good.
Ultimately, our quick conversation about little Sara’s plight left me hopeful. That when disappointment, hardship, betrayal, or heartbreak enter into my daughter’s story, a still, small voice will echo back to my girl (and to me, and to you), “We can’t just quit, or we’ll never know what happens. It has to get better. We just have to get through the hard part.”
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Yes. We have to keep going. I so appreciate this timely message–thank you for the encouragement, so tenderly put.
Kris – Yes, it’s amazing what an encouragement our young ones can be to us, isn’t it? So grateful.
This is terrific! I’ll be sharing this on my blog in my “Links I loved” feature.
A timely message in our home. And yes, The Little Princess had me in tears too! Love, love, love the sweet innocence of that story, despite the searing pain of loss. Thanks for sharing!
We’re only half way through the book, but I think I’ve loved it as much as (or more than) my daughter. Pain and beauty are closely linked, aren’t they?
One of my very favorite stories. Stories are my “Windows to my soul”…
I needed to hear this. Thanks, Julie. This is so encouraging and true.
Sam – I needed to hear it as well. Those little people sure do see clearly…
What a timeless truth.
One I’m still learning, over and over.
Needed this badly today! Thank you friend!
Karen – I’m grateful that you’re so close to the “getting better” part!
We read this with the kids last year, but I never thought about how that kind of news has changed our girls’ life the way it did Sara’s. That thought made me ache a bit just now. I’m thankful that in so many ways we’ve moved past the hard part. Good, true reminder.
Loren – I thought of your family the very day that we read the passage in the book. It’s a strange thing when children’s lives are touched by such hard truths. I’m thankful, as well, that you’ve moved through much of the hard part.
Out of the mouths of children, truly
Indeed.