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“It’s okay, Mommy.” He said those same words just a few days prior when he told my wife and me that he didn’t think he could survive. In his moment of realization … when he knew he wouldn’t survive, he didn’t seek comfort from his mother … instead, he handed it to her selflessly. ‘I’ll be okay, Mommy.’”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

Natalie had wept for a few hours. Exhausted from grief, she curled around her young boy’s head as if to comfort him – even though she was in the depths of hell and very much in need of comfort herself. 

There, in the quiet of a winter night, the world had fallen away into oblivion … and all that remained was our son whom we fought valiantly to save, but could not. As the warmth of his body drew cold, darkness gathered round us. How pitch black that darkness felt, I have not words to describe.

Just then, in that moment of profound agony, when hell seemed to open its mouth wide open … as if to swallow us whole, something sacred happened. Natalie felt a distinct impression that Mitch lingered … that he was with her in Spirit and she felt as if he whispered, “It’s okay, Mommy.” 

Comfort was his parting gift to his mother’s weary and broken soul. Comfort, and a knowledge that he still lives and loves her and that, at times in her life, he will be near to help. 

“It’s okay, Mommy.” He said those same words just a few days prior when he told my wife and me that he didn’t think he could survive. In his moment of realization … when he knew he wouldn’t survive, he didn’t seek comfort from his mother … instead, he handed it to her selflessly. “I’ll be okay, Mommy.” 

I don’t know why such heavy things were placed on his tender shoulders, for he was an innocent boy of deep faith and enduring goodness. He was honest, faithful and true. At 10 years old, he was everything I have ever hoped to be. Yet, he died. 

Some might say God is cruel or indifferent by letting such hardships happen to children. What they forget is that nobody makes it out of here alive. What’s more, the purpose of life is not to build homes and garnish them with material things. We are here to struggle and walk by the dim light of faith … and in our struggle, we will be made strong. That is an immutable law of nature that not only applies to our bodies and minds, but our souls. Struggle makes us stronger.

I have always appreciated the words of the French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who once observed, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Those are words to remember, especially when our bodies fail us and those we love.

I don’t know the meaning of all things, for I am yet a child who is learning to hear the voice of his Father. While I have much to learn, I have discovered a few things as I have stumbled in the valley of the shadow of death. I have come to know things I cannot deny: I know we are loved by a Father in ways we cannot yet comprehend, but I have felt a portion of that love and it has changed me from the inside out. I know that our spirits live on, for my dear wife and I have felt the presence of our son. I know that those who go before us can visit and offer us comfort in times of trouble.

As ancient Elisha once observed, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” I hope that my spiritual eyes will be opened so that I may see what is often hid from sight while living in mortality. I will always remember this dark winter night when my wife sensed our son’s presence, just beyond mortal sight. “It’s okay, Mommy” … a comfort and plea … whispered from a sweet little boy who wanted his mommy to see. 

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NOTE: I gave this to Natalie on Mother’s Day. We both wept as we reflected on this sacred evening where there was both the darkness of grief and the light of God. This art will be part of a book I plan to release later this fall.

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“Though at times, I may feel my plate to be small and my chicken nuggets few, I can find gratitude with what I have … for I have a plate and chicken nuggets.”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

Little Mitch sat quietly at our kitchen counter ready to eat lunch. His dear mommy prepared a plate of warm chicken nuggets and a dollop of ketchup. Chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese were among his favorite lunchtime meals. Though we were struggling to make ends meet at the time, Mitch always felt like he ate like a king. It didn’t matter if he had a bowl of Top Ramen or a grilled cheese sandwich, Mitch appreciated everything.

While his older siblings were at school, Mitch found ways to keep himself company. Wherever he went, he carried little treasures with him. Every day, we would find them in his small pant pockets, his backpack, lunch pail and in his tiny hands. As I watched my little son, I began to discover these things were more than tiny treasures … they were symbols of his affection. Suddenly, I was reminded of the passage, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” When I saw my son’s treasures, I knew where his heart was. 

So, on this warm afternoon, I saw my tiny son carefully place his little treasures around his small lunch plate. On the left was his favorite racecar; Mitchell’s muscles were weak, but he was learning to be more active and he loved how he felt when he was on the move. This car was a symbol of his love for movement. Next to this car stood his puppy, which reminded him of our family dog and the love he felt for her. Then, a figure of a little boy which represented himself. Standing next to him was another figure Mitch called dad. Never did I see those two characters apart … they were always, always together. Finally, on the far right was Buzz Lightyear, his noble protector, a shield from anything that might cause harm to the things he loved. My heart melted when I saw this tender display of affection.

Later that day, I started to notice the same thing with my other children. Each had treasures unique to them. I wasn’t just fascinated by what they treasured, but how they treasured it and what each treasure revealed about their hearts. Every bookcase, drawer and collection revealed something about their little minds and hearts. What might have looked like a mess was actually a message. And suddenly, I was listening.

My sweet wife always seemed to notice our children’s treasures (and hearts) naturally … but I had to learn the slow way. But, at least I learned. 

What I learned from my children was everyone has tiny treasures, even adults. What we do, and cling to, is an evidence of where our heart is. 

What always struck me about Mitch was how he seemed to treasure everything and that he was grateful for whatever he had. During his darkest moments I heard him say things like, “Well, at least I can walk” or “At least I’m alive.” I may be guilty of many things, but I never want to be guilty of ingratitude. Little Mitch taught me that no matter how difficult a moment may seem, I can always find something to be grateful for.

Though at times, I may feel my plate to be small and my chicken nuggets few, I can find gratitude with what I have … for I have a plate and chicken nuggets.

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“I’m convinced the only label that should be applied to people is, “Handle with Care.” For we’re all sons and daughters of somebody ... loved beyond compare. After all, without love, what else is there? I’ll tell you: a life filled with shiny things, yet empty and bare.”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

Mitch sat quietly on the edge of his bed as his mother carefully opened care packages from all across the world. His little heart was weary and about to fail; so we learned to appreciate not just moments, but the moments between moments. Every second counted. Time was worth more than all the riches of earth … for soon this little boy would leave our home on a journey from which he would never return. Soon our hearts would break in ways we couldn’t imagine.

We no longer had heart monitors, respiratory readings, blood oxygen reports and the million other hospital things that reminded us he was dying. Instead, we had our little boy back. He was home. For a short time, we enjoyed the illusion everything was okay. But things were not okay. Not one bit.

Young Mitch was always touched by care packages from others; many of which bore labels on them, “Handle with Care.” It was such a tender time for our son and those words “Handle with Care” always seemed to soothe my troubled soul. Yet my son’s countenance bore a heavy burden – for I could see he knew his time was limited – which made every act of caring more special to him.

Elementary school teachers from far-off places, hearing of our son’s fate, had their classes write notes to Mitch with loving words of encouragement. Other young children taped quarters, nickels and dimes to paper and wrote with their tender hands, “Hi Mitch, here is my allowance. I hope it helps.” I wept every time I saw such letters to Mitch and I prayed that those little souls, and their caring families, would be blessed 100-fold for their kindness.

Young Mitch was confused that people he didn’t know would care so much about him. He would read letters from others and say with shallow breaths, “They are so nice to me.” 

While Mitch slept, I would kneel outside his door and thank my Father for the tender mercies in our life. I knew we would not be spared from sorrow [no one ever is], so I learned to be grateful for the comforts that were found in our sorrows.

One man from New Jersey sent Mitch a Halo book which arrived the night he passed away. When we opened the package and told Mitch what it was, he squeezed his mother’s hand as if he wanted to wake up and see it. Oh, how he wanted to see it. His profusion was so low he was unable to open his eyes or sit up – but he could signal us, and that broke our hearts. For inside his broken little body was a spirit of a little boy who was very much alive and wanting to enjoy all the world had to offer. 

Handle with care. I can’t get those words out of my soul, and I don’t want to. I saw what it did for my son and what it did to my family - and I am forever grateful for the loving kindness of others. I will spend the rest of my life paying it forward. 

I’m convinced the only label that should be applied to people is, "Handle with Care." For we're all sons and daughters of somebody ... loved beyond compare. After all, without love, what else is there? I'll tell you: a life filled with shiny things, yet empty and bare.

Perhaps that's what little Mitch has left behind ... messages of love that he wants me to find. 

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"Dad, will you hold my hand?" Mitch asked softly. My heart melted as I reached down to grab his hand.

Mitch and I never simply held hands, we hugged hands. That simple exchange between us was both playful and deeply felt. Sometimes we had a contest to see who could give the biggest hand hug. Those are some of my favorite memories.

While holding hands, we often didn't say much. We didn't need to, for we had a conversation through our hands. All the love in our hearts was expressed by gentle squeezes that said, "I love you more than words can say." 

I didn't want Mitch to go anywhere that he didn't know he was loved beyond words. I wanted him to know his mom and dad would catch him when he fell. Always. If I couldn't heal his body, I at least wanted to heal his worried soul, and I knew that love heals.

I miss that voiceless exchange; that unspoken love which was often felt more than heard. That's what children do: they show us a kind of love where words, at times, are inadequate. Even barren. 

Although I was blessed to hold Mitchell's hand for a season, he now holds my heart forever. He was worth every piece of my broken heart. Even if I cried a million years, he would be worth every tear. 

As Mitch lay on his bed, about to pass away, I know he felt me squeeze his hand like I used to. I know it because he squeezed mine back, only this time, his squeeze was weak, like a candle about to flicker out by the winds of change. I hope, when his tender heart was worried and afraid, that he felt my unspoken love. I hope his soul felt, in a most tender and loving way, "I love you more than words can say."