Mr. L's Eulogy

This was written and read by my sister.

Dearest L,

You were perfection.
From the moment you were born until the second you left us.
Nobody could look at you and not fall in love—With your infectious smile, your beautiful eyes, so full of life.
Your grandma would say that you looked like your great-grandfather and your great uncle, Bob: a little Irishman.
And now, it breaks our hearts to know that we will never see the man you would have become.
What you would have looked like, where your life would have led you.
We had so many hopes and dreams for you, little one.

And I know I, like so many people here today, made countless bargains with God, that He would let you stay.
To one day feel the wind in your hair; the warm sun on your skin; a sweet embrace from your big brother, B, who gives the best hugs in the world.
But it always seemed as though God couldn’t quite decide whether to give you, His most precious, perfect gift, over to us completely.
Perhaps you were too good.
Perhaps the world just wasn’t deserving enough, just yet.

But, oh, how you were loved—and by so many.
By your family in Dallas; in St. Louis; in Topeka, Kansas; in Birmingham, England; in Kilrea, Northern Ireland; and in so many other places.
One day, your grandpa, or “pa-pa,” would have sat you down and brought out all his genealogy research to show you exactly where you came from.
“Guess who this is,” he would say, holding up a dusty photograph of some ancient ancestor,
“This is your great, great, great, great, (someone-or-other).”And you would smile and listen intently, because you, like your brothers and sisters do already, would think that your pa-pa hung the moon.

And your grandma, or “ma-ma,”
She would have one day taken you to England and Ireland, to meet your relatives there.
She would have told you about your great-grandmother, who I’m sure is already bouncing you on her knee in heaven.
Your grandma visited you every day, without fail, in the hospital.She doted on you, adored you, she would have spoiled you rotten.

And your mommy and daddy—Who have been such examples of grace, courage, and faith.
Whose hands seem so full already, but I know feel painfully empty without you.
I cannot begin to imagine the depths of their pain right now, the oceans of tears they have cried.
They loved you so.
They would have devoted their lives to you, as they have to your brothers and sisters.
As much as they were lucky to have you, you were so very blessed to have them.
Please watch over them now.
Help them gather the strength they need to continue on, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

Please also watch over your godparents, who loved you before you were born, and who had looked so forward to watching you grow up, to being your mentors and biggest fans.
Watch over your beloved nurses, your angels here on earth.
Whose kindness and tenderness sustained you over these many months.
Help them as they continue to care for your brother, Jack.
And, finally, take care of your sisters – as they continue to grow and get stronger every day.

I am so grateful that I had the privilege of being your aunt, if only for a brief while.
That I was able to hold you in my arms, even if it was just one time.
I will always be so thankful for that.
We are all – your family, friends, everyone gathered here today – better for having known you.
Our lives have been forever changed and enriched by your amazing spirit and your extraordinary bravery.

So sleep peacefully, now, sweet baby boy, next to your brother.
Gone from this world, but never, ever to be forgotten.
Rest now, in the hearts and minds of those who loved you.