heaven is never too far

Her hair was up in a ponytail. 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 because 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 her dad 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 and forth to meet their Children squirming impatiently and anxiously in their seats. One by one the teacher called each student from the class to introduce their daddy as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name and, 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 to waste his day”. The words did not offended 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 to 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 and taught me 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 because my daddy is always with me even though we are apart. I know because he told me he'll forever be in my heart. "With that, her little hand reached up and lay across her chest feeling her own heartbeat 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 and 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 was clear and loud. "I love my daddy very much, He's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven is 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, it’s like he never went away. "And then she closes her eyes, and saw him there that day. And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes. Who knows what they see before them? Who knows what they felt inside? Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side. "I know you're with me Daddy”, to the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers of those once filled with doubt. And no 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. The child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining bright star and given the gift of believing that heaven is never too far