Tender Heart, The Meaning of Life.

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Gabriel was sitting on the couch, his little legs in a position I could not mimic, his hands on my knees as I told him stories of my dad. "My dad, named Vo, loved motorcycles. He had motorcycles to ride in the fields, on the roads, on uphills, and on racetracks," I leaned in close to Gabriel, "Vo would be impressed with your bicycle riding; you are so fast!" Gabriel listened thoughtfully. He asked, "Where is Vo?" I smiled into Gabriel's eyes; "Vo died long before you were born." 

A little frown on his brow, "Why did he die?" he asked.

"He died because he was old." as soon as I uttered those words, his lip quivered as if his heart knew the depth of life, his heart, you could say, was on his sleeve.

I knew how Gabriel looked at me; he was thinking, "Do you think Vavie is old?"

With a child's honesty, he solemnly said, "Yes. Why aren't you dead?"

Looking into his sweet baby face, I grinned,

"Because it isn't my time yet. I am here, and hopefully,

I won't die so we can play for a long time."

His frown softened.

Chelsea added, "Do you remember what Mana (his other grandmother) said about people who die?"

"Yes, they go to heaven."

"Do you know heaven is?" I asked.

"No, it is in the sky. Do you know?"

"I want to believe it is love, a big happy love, love that holds us all together forever."

And with that, he said, "Come play with me."

And I did.

 



Comments

10 responses to “Tender Heart, The Meaning of Life.”

  1. How precious are your words and all you share.
    Thank you
    Love Jeanne

  2. Julie Schmidt

    This is so heartwarming. Thank you for sharing.

  3. Very sweet. I remember when my very young son first understood that people don’t live forever. It was such a profound realization and it made him (and me) very sad.

  4. Susan in Zurich

    ❤️

  5. JEAN MUNROE

    This made me cry. So sweet.

  6. Chico Sue

    What a tender heart Gabriel has, indeed. And your sweet telling of the “here after” is such a wonderful thing for him to embrace in the future.

  7. Oh, such sweet tenderness and love. It touches my heart…

  8. Texas Francophile

    Awe such a sweet exchange. Was all of this in English or French?

  9. Texas, I spoke in English, and Gabriel spoke mostly in French.

  10. What a deep conversation.
    I am so glad he has you to share these stories.

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