The Brave Little Soul

I just received this email from a friend. How it got to her, I am not sure, but she passed it on to me.

I will preface this email by telling you that Ivey has brought joy to many many many people. Her life has been a miracle, in so many infinite ways. = Hearts have opened, hearts have mended, friendships created, friendships renewed, a community united, priorities aligned, love established.-Yes,life is hard at times. And for me, I want Ivey's story told, all because I see that she is a Brave Little Soul. There isn't a relationship in my life that hasn't been made more valuable all because of Ivey. I will mention that everything is not always light hearted, my mom and husband normally endure the convergence of life, fear and reality and when I subcome to the three. Sometimes, life and reality merge and become too much. When I touch Ivey and my sons all fear disappears. But maybe, just maybe, the world is more compassionate all because of the presence of babies and children like our daughter.


A three year old little boy that attends St. Thomas Day School (Anna
>Kate attends the mother's morning out program there), was recently
>diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I became a frequent visitor on
>his care page to check his progress. On the web site,
>(www.carepages.com) I noticed a place that invites one to read other
>journals from "brave souls" who volunteer to share their journey with
>illness and hope. Feeling empathetic, I read every story. Even though I
>have never met any of these "brave souls", they have become a part of
>my life. I "check-in" on them periodically for updates, pray for each
>person daily and feel sorrow and hurt when they receive bad lab reports
>or have an especially hard day. I even called each person by name as I shared their story with Chris.
>
> As I tearfully told Chris about a nineteen year old boy that recently
> lost his battle with leukemia, and thought about the little boy at
> Anna Kate's school, and thought of my friend Sara, and thought of an
> acquaintance from Rome that delivered a baby girl with a chromosonal
> abnormality, and thought of all those people from the care page website,
I became angry.
> Why do children get cancer? Why must people suffer? Why are babies
> born with deformaties and abnormalities? Why? Why? Why? Why would a
> loving God allow such tragedy and suffering?
>
> Today, I got my answer through a poem posted in a care page journal by
> a mother of a little girl with leukemia. This poem is very
> inspirational. I hope you will read it.
>
> The Brave Little Soul
> By: John Alessi
>
> Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in
> observing the world. He especially enjoyed the love he saw there and
> often expressed this joy with God. One day however, the little soul
> was sad, for on this day he saw suffering in the world. He approached
> God and sadly asked, "Why do bad things happen, why is there suffering in the world?"
>
> God paused for a moment and replied, Little soul, do not be sad, for
> the suffering you see, unlocks the love in peoples hearts". The
> little soul was confused. "What do you mean", he asked. God replied,
> "Have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering?
> Look at how people come together, drop their differences, and show
> their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other
> motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone.
>
> The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God
> continued, "The suffering soul unlocks the love in people's hearts
> like the sun and rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created
> everyone with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most
> people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are
> afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of
> being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. i tell you this-it is the greatest miracle of all.
> Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer -to
> unlock the love-to create this miracle-for the good of all humanity.
>
> Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly
> contain himself. With his wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the
> little soul excitedly replied, "I am a brave; let me go! I would like
> to go into this world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and
> love in people's hearts! I want to create that miracle!"
>
> God smiled and said, "You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will
> grant your request. But even though you are very brave you will not be
> able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that
> you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to
> care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your
> miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these
> souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer
> along with you, far beyond the others. They have already chosen a name for you.
>
> God and the brave little soul shared a smile, and then embraced. In
> parting, God said, "Do not forget little soul that I will be with you
> always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so
> through my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that
> you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and
> you will be healed.
>
> Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and
> through his suffering and God's strength he unlocked the goodness and
> love in people's hearts. For so many people dropped their differences
> and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly
> aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too
> busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys-some regained lost
> faith-many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter.
> Friends and family grew closer. Old friends got together and new
> friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent
> more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives were changed forever. it was good.
> the world was a better place. the miracle had happened. God was pleased.
>
>
>
> Isn't that AWESOME?
>
> Brenda
>
>