Emma visited with him in the hospital and had such a connection with him. She told me one night he was crying for his Mama. His face was dry (to me) but she later told me that he was crying, and she could tell because of the tears on his face. She would walk out of the hospital and start singing Jesus Loves Me, or Go Tell it on the Mountain. We talked about heaven and that Papa may be leaving us to go to heaven, and she never batted an eye.
After he passed away and I told her, she said okay he isn't sick any more. She later told me that he didn't have pain in his back, leg, ankle, elbow, or anywhere any more. When I explained about the funeral home visitation and that people may be upset she said "why, he is with JESUS!" She has reassured me in my faith, by being so strong in hers. She went to the visitation and wanted to see Papa but then said that's not Papa because he is with Jesus. Since then she has said hey Papa a few times when we go by the hospital, or his house. One morning she said "I miss you Papa" and I said "I miss you too Papa.
This 3 year old has taught me so much! I am not saying she will not have days that she questions why or how, but she is such an amazing little girl. I told a nurse that Emma got her spunk from Papa and now I wonder what all she did get from him. I can only hope she got an ounce of his love, faith, joy, passion, and determination.
May the work I've done speak for me.
Raymond Dalton
November 21, 1931 - March 21, 2016
