The cold, crisp day seemed to be warmed by the arrival of their beautiful baby girl. John and Joanne St. Pierre’s third child had just been delivered. Everyone was ecstatic, the men celebrated with their family’s tradition of smoking cigars, while the women marvelled at the beauty of the newborn. Her parents had chosen the name Deshae for the girl, months before her birth.
As the infant grew, so too, did her unique personality. Deshae’s family adored her. Her cousins, aunties, and uncles all fought for her attention at family functions. Somehow Deshae would find a way to make all of them feel special. She loved to sing and dance, and put on a shows for anybody willing to watch (which happened to be everybody.) She could put a smile on anyone’s face.
When people came to visit John and Joanne’s place, it was to visit Deshae. It seemed to them that the company increased ten fold since Deshae’s arrival.
The best part about Deshae, was her smile. “Her smile was that of an angel,” her mother would boast. Great big dimples would appear on either cheek as she shrugged her little shoulders and grinned.
One evening as Deshae sat watching her favourite cartoon, she said to her mother, “I want to see memere.” Joanne thought that was a somewhat unusual request, seeing as Deshae’s grandmother had passed away two months earlier.
“Baby, you can’t see her now.” Her mother replied. “One day, a long time from now, you’ll see her again”
Deshae carried on watching her show as if nothing had happened. Joanne was doubtful that Deshae even heard her response.
For two and a half years after the arrival of Deshae, the St. Pierres lived on cloud nine.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful little angel living in heaven. This little angel was something special. Everyone in heaven loved her so much. She entertained all the other angels and the saints with her song and dance. Even though He would never admit it God favoured her, over the others.
The time came when this little angel had to leave God’s Kingdom, and descend to earth to live her mortal life. Now God didn’t want to place her with just any family, so He searched the whole world for the perfect home for her to live in. He wanted this family to have an affectionate and loving mother that would do anything it would take for this little angel. The father was to be a strong man that would protect her and that would take care of the family if anything were to go wrong. God also wanted her to have two big sisters to play with and to guide her through life. The final thing God wanted for his favourite little angel was plenty of Aunties, Uncles and cousins to smother her with their love.
It took Him a long time, but He finally found the ideal family for her. He remembered the loving couple to which he had previously given two children. They lived near a small prairie town in a place called Saskatchewan. People who lived there, still knew the true meaning of “home” and they still regarded family values highly. God knew that this family would provide the perfect loving environment for His favourite angel to grow up in.
When the day came that the little angel had to leave and begin her nine-month journey down to earth, everyone in heaven was terribly sad. Even God himself was not in His usual cheerful mood. They gathered in Heaven’s Hall to see her off. When she left, she smiled her beautiful bright smile and said, “I’ll miss you all, but I’ll see you again someday.” Everybody in heaven cried and cried and they only stopped when God reminded them of the joy she would bring to those on earth.
God was very happy with the family He had chosen, but all was not well in His Kingdom. There were many there who were angry with him for sending their little angel off to earth. People argued and fought over God’s decision to send her off, they told Him it “wasn’t fair”. They asked Him why he had chose her and why so soon. He tried to make them accept the fact that everyone has their time to go, and He reminded them again and again that she was making everyone around her happy on earth. Heaven just didn’t feel like heaven anymore. The climate became more and more tense in heaven until God had no choice but to bring the little angel back. So one morning, only two and a half years after she had left, little Deshae was called back. Just as those on earth rejoiced when she arrived there, those on heaven rejoiced as she re-entered the Kingdom of Heaven.
“It’s Not Fair!” Joanne screamed. “Why Her!?” “Why Now!?” Her face was contorted by the pain only a mother that has lost her child could know. She found Deshae lying lifeless in her bed early one morning. As she walked in the room where her baby lay, the sun streamed through the bedroom window, casting its golden rays on mommy’s little angel. Joanne wrapped her girl in her white sheets and held her close. In a pained whisper she said over and over again, “Why? Why?”
The church was full, on the afternoon of Deshae’s funeral. The front was decorated with her books and toys. Just to the right of the alter, there was a framed picture of her, smiling her precious smile. A slide show was presented, and everyone got to see how much little Deshae enjoyed her short stay on earth. There was not one picture of her without a smile gracing her face, and there was not one dry eye in the building as the slideshow ended.
Deshae’s Godmother rose to speak about her. “Deshae’s time on this earth was short.” She began. “But I am reminded of a quote that I had heard many years ago…” She paused to wipe away a tear and compose herself. “In the end… it is not the years in your life that count… It is the life in those years.” Her voice was uneven and she struggled to speak the words. “As we witnessed in the slideshow… Deshae lived life to the fullest… Through her song and dance… and through the love that she showed everybody… She sent us all a message. Deshae’s message was clear…Dance like nobody’s watching…Sing like nobody’s listening…Love like you have never been hurt… and Live like its heaven on earth.” She was crying now, tears flowed down her face freely. Through those tears she managed to say, “I truly believe… that our sweet little Deshae was an angel sent here to spread her message… So let us not weep that she is gone… but rejoice that we had been graced with her presence for a short time.