Martha still couldn’t believe the diagnosis- Leukemia! Her daughter was eleven. Eleven years old!

“Why give me a daughter if you were going to just rip her from me? Don’t you know my life will never be the same? I can’t live without her God. I simply cannot live without hearing my little girl say she loves me, and asking for butterfly kisses at night. I will do anything God. Anything, just please don’t take her away from me. Take me instead, please God, please heal her…”

It tore out Sam’s heart to watch his wife trying to bargain with God. He stood in the doorway listening to her request, knowing she really would gladly give her life for their daughter’s. He would as well. If only the decision could be theirs to make. But it wasn’t. It was entirely up to God now. And as they nightly prayed over Harper, the little girl continued to get worse.

Harper; she was so amazing. She told them daily that she hated seeing her parents so sad. She was convinced she would be with Jesus one day, flying around like a butterfly, and singing with the angels. She said she was looking forward to seeing her grandparents and playing with her dog again. She had a faith like no other. Harper insisted that that her parents move on, because, as she put it, “You never know how long you have on earth- so you should enjoy each day and make it special for someone.”

Harper had always listened to her Sunday school teachers and probably knew more Bible verses than both of her parents combined. Her belief in heaven was reassuring, but it left her parents feeling all the more angry that God wanted to take such a special, loving child.

Still, it came as quite a shock when Harper told her parents what she wanted for Christmas. It didn’t seem to matter that it was February and she was lying in a hospital bed with very few days ahead. The doctors had told them that she most likely wouldn’t make it through the week’s end.

“Mom, Dad, I’ve been thinking a lot about this and I know what I want for Christmas. But before I ask, I want you to promise me you’ll get it”, said Harper.

Sam and Martha took her hands and said, “Harper you know we will get you anything you want. Just name it honey. Nothing would make us happier than to have you home this Christmas opening up a gift. I’m glad you’re thinking ahead. Christmas is still a long way off. That’s a great sign. It means you’re not giving up yet, right?” asked Martha.

“Promise me, Momma. No matter what. Do you promise I can have my Christmas wish?” asked Harper.

“Yes, baby. We promise”, they both said.

Harper began, “O.k. I want you to adopt another girl and give her a home by this Christmas. Find one like me, who might like my room and dolls and maybe even watch those Hannah Montana movies with you. That way you guys won’t be so lonely, and then some other little girl could grow up in the best home with the best parents in the whole wide world, like I got to do. And then…”

Martha and Sam interrupt her, “Oh, Harper, We can’t replace you honey. You can’t ask us for that!”

“If you want a sister one day, we’ll work on that when you’re back home. But you can’t possibly expect us to just march down the street and pick out a new child. It must be your medicine kicking in. The morphine must be making you loopy, making you talk crazy and think things like that…” continued Martha.

“No Mom, I’ve been thinking about this for months. I’ve even spoken to a lady at an adoption agency.” Harper pulls out a brochure from under her pillow. “Inside is an application for Foster Parents. I’ve told her all about you guys. I told her my wish, and she gave me the paperwork and her card, and said that she’d love to meet you when you’re ready. She said the Foster Home has several girls living there right now that no one will take. She said all the other adoptive parents want babies, not older girls like me. Isn’t that sad, Mom?”

Martha cried, and kept shaking her head no, saying that they just couldn’t do it. And all the while Harper kept saying, “But you promised, you promised. It’s all I want for Christmas and you said I could have anything I asked for. This is what I’m asking for.”

As Martha and Sam left the hospital room that night, they promised to talk to Harper about it the next morning. But they never got the chance. Their angel passed quietly into the hands of God, all the while clutching the adoption application papers.

Ten months later, on Christmas Eve, a little 10 year old girl looks around her Hannah Montana room and stares at a picture on the wall. She then turns to her mom beside her, and asks for Butterfly kisses.

As Martha and Sam tuck in Kate, they say her night-time prayers. The photograph of a blond, blue- eyed girl smiles back at them as they whisper, “Merry Christmas Harper.”

Author Bio: Jenn enjoys writing inspiring stories based on tough circumstances. Brought to you buy Christmas Garland from http://www.ChristmasTreeForMe.com

Category: Short Stories
Keywords: Christmas