A book just released, Notes Left Behind, was compiled from notes left around the home of six-year old Elena Desserich. She had the unfortunate fate of pediatric brain cancer. The tumor took away her speaking voice, but not her ability to write what was in her heart. Before she died she began leaving notes for her little sister, Grace, and her parents. They are simple, heartfelt and often illustrated messages of how much she loved them and in the many different ways.
Apparently she wrote so many notes that her parents, Keith and Brooke Desserich, are still finding them. She stuck them between CDs, in bookcases and elsewhere around the house. Her parents eventually were inspired to compile the notes in a book to share with the world. They did it because her notes (and her artwork) are powerful testimonies to a love and humility of a little girl. Also they made sure that proceeds would benefit The Cure Starts Now Foundation, which they founded to fight cancer.
Jesus often made the point that living life with the innocence, faith and love of a child is something we all should strive for. In Matthew 18:3-4 he stated the importance of changing to be like little children as the way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Too often we adults plow our way through life thinking we’ve got it all figured out and that we know what is best. After all, we’ve been to school, we’re grownups and we work hard at our occupations. But we so easily can lose sight of the precious point of view children can provide.
Elena reminds us to take time to notice what we love about life and share it with others. In a world where we often are consumed with taking notes maybe leaving some will do more good.
More on Notes Left Behind at www.notesleftbehind.com
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