June 15, 2015 marked the 2-year anniversary of our dearly departed Paige. I’m sure we all wished we had gathered that day in celebration rather than in mourning. But there we were gathered together to say our final good bye to our beloved Paige.
As I watched her dad, mom and sister standing over her grave heartbroken I could feel their pain....their loss. As I watched the rest of the family approach and place a rose on her remains I, too, felt the tremendous loss that we, as a family, had endured.
When it was my turn to place my rose on her remains I remembered the day Paige was born. She was the most beautiful little baby you could ever hope to see, and she was an especially wonderful blessing for Maribel and Eddie who wanted to start a family. With this one child, their prayers had been answered. They were so blessed and so happy.
Paige was by all accounts an easy baby with a naturally happy disposition. I have vivid memories of walking into her nursery and seeing her in her crib with a great big smile stretching out her arms to offer a welcoming hug. Of course, that smile and warmth became her trademark that instantly endeared her to everyone who ever came in contact with her. Paige was definitely meant to bring love into this world for the all-too-short time we would have with her.
In light of how deeply Paige was loved by her parents,her sister, her family, as well as everyone who truly knew her, it's difficult to understand why her life had to end so soon. It's nearly inconceivable that God would allow such a beautiful soul to have such a tragic accident, let alone die. When you look at it that way, it's easy to be angry at God for taking back the gift He gave us. I now choose to look at it another way.
God saw how dearly Eddie and Maribel wanted to know the joy of having their first child; He gave Paige to their keeping for a short time so they could know that joy. God allowed Paige to touch each of our lives showing us the beauty of human kindness in its rarest form. When Paige had the accident her suffering was too much to bear, so He scooped her up to Heaven, and all her suffering was gone. I believe she now waits patiently for the day when Eddie, Maribel and Sage will join her, and they will all live happily together once again. I believe that Paige would want us all to dwell on the happy times we shared with her, and let the sad memories fade.
Paige, no one really wants to say goodbye, so I'll just wish you eternal peace until we meet again. Your memory will live on in our hearts forever and forever you will be missed.