A man had a little daughter, an only and much beloved child.
He lived for her, she was his life. So when she became ill
and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians,
he became like a man possessed, moving Heaven and earth to bring about the restoration to health.
His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died.
The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse.
He shut himself off from his many friends and family. He refused every activity that might
restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.
One night he had a dream.
He dreamt that he was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant
of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently
endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic tot
carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lit.
Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.
Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms.
He caressed her tenderly, and then asked, "How is it, darling that your candle alone is not lit?"
She answered, "Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out".
Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and it's effects were immediate.
From that hour on he was not a recluse.
He started mingling freely and cheerfully with his former friends.
No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears........
