Mari’s time may not have been long on this earth but the impression she made on those around her will last forever.

When we think about a young child dying, the first thought that naturally comes to mind is they’re too young too dye or they’re time was too short or they aren’t supposed to die before me. We are human and in our brains we can’t wrap it around how not just a child, but any child for that matter, could die. Our hearts break any time we hear of one passing.

Mari was no different. On July 1, 2008, it started off like any other day in my young little eight and half year old little girl’s life. Yet, this was the first day that would start to change the rest of my life and those around me.

I always look back at the odd coincidence how day 1 was July 1. Day 2 July 2. All the way to day 16 July 16. The first 16 days of July directly correlate to the 16 days that forever changed our lives.

So our daughter left for heaven around 8pm on July 16, 2008. Was it before her time? Was she supposed to have more of it? Could I have done something to change her fate? In my heart I wish I could say yes because then maybe she would still be here. Maybe I wouldn’t have had to hurt this bad over the past four and a half years. Think of what that all would mean. If everything didn’t happen the way it did, you wouldn’t be reading the very post you are reading right now. I started to write because it was one way to help me get through my grief journey. The bottom line, God had and still has this perfect plan for my life.

Mari’s life was short in how we look at time. But for God, her timing on the earth was the perfect amount of time. She served her purpose on the earth. Just in how she had, and still has, touched the lives of those who either knew her or only meet her through my words, she has filled the purpose God intended.

I know some people might say that if God is such a loving, such a caring God, how could He have allowed the tragedy to happen with our daughter. It’s because His plans are bigger than anything we can comprehend. He brings happiness and joy out of suffering. He bestows us with many blessings if we are willing to find them. He gives us the strength to continue living when we are emotionally spent. The most important thing is we are never alone as He is always with us. I thank the Lord everyday He is in my life guiding and directing me. He gave me the gift of writing.

Time. It’s an amazing concept. I just feel blessed to know that at the end of the day I will one day be reunited with my beloved angel now in heaven and this gives me the peace I need to be okay and continue to write through it all.