Darling Girl,

I will never forget the first picture I saw of you.

You were tiny like a pixie and you radiated a charisma and love that instantly drew the viewer in – and I felt like I wanted to know you and your strength. And then I marveled that I, a full-grown adult, would have that response to a two-year-old child.

But so you were and will always be – the one who drew people in and changed lives with nothing more than the sunshine of your presence.

Right now, I can’t pass anything in any store with emojis and not think of you.

I want to scream and say it’s not fair and that you should have been eight on this, your birthday, and not two weeks gone already.

But this I know beyond a shadow of doubt:

You did more in eight that many will do in eighty.

You became braver than most will be in a lifetime of trial.

You found more joy simply because you wanted it more.

You spread more love because you knew the truth of it.

So, as much as I want to scream against the seeming unfairness of a world you no longer inhabit, I would not have you back in the brokenness for a second, dear girl, for I know you are free now and forever.

Love you, care about you, and will never, ever forget you.

Give us a minute to change the world with the story of your legacy and then we’ll see you in a little while, beautiful Mia.

“I’ll see you in a little while
It won’t be too long now
We’ll see it on the other side
The wait was only the blink of an eye
So I’m not gonna say goodbye
‘Cause I’ll see you in a little while.”

~ Steven Curtis Chapman

 

In honor of the one and only Mia Bennett Gurevitz

12 November 2009 – 25 October 2017