A man had a little daughter-an only
and much-beloved child. He lived for her ~ she was his life. So when she became
ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he
became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her
restoration to health.
His best efforts proved unavailing
and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter
recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every
activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.
But one night he had a dream. He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand
pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently
endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic tot carried
a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that
the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while
the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and
then asked: "How is it, darling that your candle alone is unlighted?
"Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out."
Just then he awoke from his dream.
The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on
he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends
and associates. No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by
his useless tears.
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