One Last Time?
Grace Emily Schara - 9/22/02-10/13/21
Sometimes you wish you could see her smile one last time. That you could look into those same eyes you gazed into when you cradled her as a newborn baby and which looked back into yours, full of contentment and peace.
Sometimes you wish her embrace would return around your waist. That her laughter and sense of humor would ring throughout the house one last time.
Sometimes you wear her brother’s green Power Ranger jacket she cherished to feel close to her, or you wear her favorite perfume, to have her scent close by. Just one more smell?
Other times you need the faith she had. When you think God has abandoned you for allowing your daughter to leave this world, you yearn for her bravery and faith, so pure and true. Why does God need her more than you do, after all? One day you’ll find out, but right now you want her here once more.
If only you could have her innocence. It’s her innocence that brought her such joy, such affection, such love. Oh, if everyone could muster a fraction of that innocence, the world would be at peace! You’ve never seen anyone hug a stranger the way she did, and you could never bring yourself to do it because that sweet innocence doesn’t abide inside you. It’s reserved for God’s special ones. Maybe that’s why He needed her home? The Creator of all things wanted that hug, too.
If somehow we could have the special moments that were unique to her back…wanting her feet rubbed and her nails painted…playing her violin…experiencing her love of Elvis and watching her imitations, it would rock our world. Could we please just have these moments back one more time?
Her excitement for life is missed the most. Every craft had her special touch. Her zest for learning inspired everyone. Above all, she had a special love for family and friends. Just one more sweet comment, hug and gentle kiss?
A beautiful description of her love, received from one of Grace’s classmates, three weeks ago:
“One thing about your daughter that I’m noticing now, is that every time I read the Bible or a Bible study book…every time it mentions ‘Grace,’ almost as a person, I can’t help thinking of your Grace. Because every time it talks about ‘Grace’ it describes how I knew her and what I saw from her.”
But since you can’t have her smile back and her embrace won’t engulf you again; and since her faith and innocence were hers alone, and since her aroma has long since faded on her clothing, and since the special moments, excitement for life and love are only memories, isn’t there something you could have one last time?
Her voice. The inflection of her words. The rhythm in which she spoke. While her arms could embrace your body, her voice would embrace your heart. Can you have her voice one more time? Yes. Yes, that you can have.
On this day, we thank God for the ability to replay her voice…
We love and miss you Grace, always and forever!!!
Who was Grace? Mom wrote Grace’s obituary and touched on what made Grace so very special. It would mean a lot to us if you would take the time to read it now.
Hello, as a parent of a child with Down syndrome, I am more than heartbroken for you. It is so difficult for me to read about your daughter and the horrific way in which you lost her. My life had become so rich because of my daughter with Down syndrome. She is without doubt one of the best things that ever happened to me and she is the light of my life. I know that Grace was like that for you. I am praying for you. Go get those BASTARDS!
She was definitely murdered no doubt