It was two months before Christmas and Danielle Parker passed away from cancer. She left behind her loving husband Frank and ten year old daughter, Angela. Now, Danielle was a loving and active woman when she was alive and healthy so it made her suffering such a tough sight to see. Her husband and daughter tried not to show their sadness for her while alive, but Danielle knew and expressed that everything will be alright.
During the hour before Danielle’s death, she told her daughter to watch for a sign. A sign that will suggest that she is doing well in heaven. At the time that obviously upset Angela because she didn’t want to lose her mom. But the time had come and Frank consoled his daughter the best that he could. He tried to be strong for her too but was heartbroken as well.
Halloween and Thanksgiving had come and gone without any kind of celebration. And when the month of December came it was usually the most fun for Angela. She and her mother would decorate the tree and house together while her father worked. This year it would be different. Angela and her father were both still sad and trying to get along without Danielle. After all it was not even two months yet since she’s been gone. Some days would be harder for Angela than other days. And her father would also have days where he would have to push back the tears.
One day while Frank was off from work, he went out and bought a Christmas tree. He put it up in the living room where Danielle usually liked it. He also brought down the tree decorations from the attic and set them by the tree. When Angela got home from school and saw the bare Christmas tree standing there, she started to cry. Angela missed her mother very much and ran to her bedroom. Frank felt bad that he made her cry. After all he had hoped that decorating the tree together would make her smile again.
The Christmas tree stood in the corner completely bare for a week and a half. It was now a week before Christmas and Angela was on her school break. Frank was home as well due to the changes. On one of the days Frank suggested that the two of them go to the cemetery to visit her mom. Angela was delighted to go because it had been a few weeks since they visited her last. When they arrived at the cemetery, Angela saw that some of the graves had small decorated trees on them.
“Look Daddy, we should have bought one of those for Mommy’s grave,” Angela pointed at the cute little Christmas trees.
“Well, we can still decorate the one we have at home in honor of her,” Frank said.
“Maybe,” Angela said quietly.
Frank parked the car and they both proceeded to the area where Danielle’s body was laid to rest. Angela looked around and saw some different bouquets of flowers and more little trees on other peoples graves. But as the two of them got closer to Danielle’s plot, they saw the brightest and most beautiful red flowers growing from the base of the headstone.
“Daddy, did you plant those there?” Angela looked up him.
“No sweetheart, but maybe the caretaker did,” Frank glanced around for him.
Frank stood off to the side of Danielle’s grave while Angela kneeled down next to it. She told her mother how much she misses her while staring at the flowers. Frank glanced around with hope to see the caretaker so that he could ask him.
“These sure are pretty aren’t they Daddy? Mommy would like them for sure,” Angela said.
“Yes sweetheart, I think that she would,” Frank looked down at his daughter.
Out of nowhere, the caretaker walked up from behind the two of them, “Merry Christmas you two.”
“Oh, Merry Christmas to you too. Do you know who planted these flowers here?” Frank asked.
“No I don’t, and you two are the only one’s I’ve seen visit her. If you ask me, those magical flowers,” the caretaker smiled at Angela.
Angela looked up at the caretaker, “magical flowers?
“Yes, they’re called the Christmas flower. Well, technically they are called Amaryllis but they usually bloom at Christmas time. And at Christmas time magic happens, right?” The caretaker smiled again.
Angela quickly stood up, “Daddy, they are magical. I remember now. Just before Mommy died, she said to look for a sign. This is the sign Daddy, she’s doing well in heaven. She said she would be,” Angela hugged her father.
Frank embraced his daughter while the caretaker nodded and then went on his way. Angela and her father spent another half an hour at Danielle’s grave site. Angela told her mother what’s been going on in school lately and how her father bought them a beautiful Christmas tree. And when they got home, Angela was happier and asked her father if they could decorate the tree together. As Frank saw this change in his daughter’s demeanor, it helped him to feel better too.
Frank started with the strings of lights and put them on while Angela dug out some of her mother’s favorite ornaments. The two of them talked, reminisced, and laughed a little. They also ate some dinner and then finished decorating the tree by placing the angel on the top. The angel was a gift that Frank had given Danielle eleven years prior and it was Angela’s favorite. The two of them smiled while they gazed at the beautifully lit and decorated tree. Frank put his arm around his daughter and believed that things now would get better.
This Christmas will not be the same as it used to be for them, but they both feel more at peace inside now. The blooming Christmas flowers were a sure sign of Danielle being at peace too.
The End
Christmas day is getting closer and I will be working until then so I hope that you all enjoy your Christmas however you spend it. Merry Christmas.
I just read this and the tears were flowing. We haven't been able to put up decorations or a tree since we lost Vic. December is just a really hard month. His birthday is Dec. 10th. We always put the tree up and decorated that day. We lost him Dec. 21st. Then Christmas, his favorite holiday, on Dec. 25th. Our anniversary is Dec. 31st. We lost him 12 yrs ago but it still feels like yesterday. The last 3 yrs we have been able to visit with our Travis and his family without too many tears. We are able to talk with them about Vic with out lots of tears so maybe we will eventually get there. Hugs to you all.
This story is very touching and heartfelt. It does show the magic of Christmas with the joy and peace it creates. My heart goes out to all that have loved ones that have left us to go to heaven.