The Second Story: The Book of Life
Hugh had a special gift for relating to children. He loved them and they loved him. Fletcher Goodwin would meet Hugh in the sanctuary every Sunday morning with a big "high five." Fletcher sent Hugh a beautiful get well card while he was in the hospital. Ann Carlton Aldridge loved for Hugh to play with her and toss her in the air. Babies went to Hugh when no one else would do. I think they knew that he was "one of them," just a kid at heart.
Lila and Mary Parker Geddie spent lots of time with us, and Lila, in particular, had a very special relationship with Hugh. Rather than sit with her parents in church, Lila would sit with Hugh. She would get the comb he always carried in his pocket and stand in the pew beside him, combing his hair through the whole service. Hugh would sit there with broad smile, enjoying the attention and the service. The two of them provided plenty of amusement for those of us in the choir.
Recently, I spent some time with Lila's mother, Ann, and she told me about a book that Lila's father,Tim, had made for Lila about her life. The book contained photographs of important events and important people in Lila's short life. Ann told me that one of the pictures in the book was of Hugh with Lila and Mary Parker. Every year at Easter the Geddies take a picture of Parker and Lila in front of the cross outside the church. Hugh was watching this ritual a couple of years ago and Tim invited him to be in the picture with the girls since they loved him so much. Hugh was delighted, of course. This special picture made it into "The Story of Lila Geddie's Life."
There is a Judeo Christian tradition that the names of the righteous are written in the Book of Life. I think of the Book of Life not as a separating of good from evil, but as an affirmation that God calls each of us by name and claims us as his own as He certainly claims Hugh. Hugh's name is also written in the books of the lives of all the children he loved and he continues to live through them.
Hugh had a special gift for relating to children. He loved them and they loved him. Fletcher Goodwin would meet Hugh in the sanctuary every Sunday morning with a big "high five." Fletcher sent Hugh a beautiful get well card while he was in the hospital. Ann Carlton Aldridge loved for Hugh to play with her and toss her in the air. Babies went to Hugh when no one else would do. I think they knew that he was "one of them," just a kid at heart.
Lila and Mary Parker Geddie spent lots of time with us, and Lila, in particular, had a very special relationship with Hugh. Rather than sit with her parents in church, Lila would sit with Hugh. She would get the comb he always carried in his pocket and stand in the pew beside him, combing his hair through the whole service. Hugh would sit there with broad smile, enjoying the attention and the service. The two of them provided plenty of amusement for those of us in the choir.
Recently, I spent some time with Lila's mother, Ann, and she told me about a book that Lila's father,Tim, had made for Lila about her life. The book contained photographs of important events and important people in Lila's short life. Ann told me that one of the pictures in the book was of Hugh with Lila and Mary Parker. Every year at Easter the Geddies take a picture of Parker and Lila in front of the cross outside the church. Hugh was watching this ritual a couple of years ago and Tim invited him to be in the picture with the girls since they loved him so much. Hugh was delighted, of course. This special picture made it into "The Story of Lila Geddie's Life."
There is a Judeo Christian tradition that the names of the righteous are written in the Book of Life. I think of the Book of Life not as a separating of good from evil, but as an affirmation that God calls each of us by name and claims us as his own as He certainly claims Hugh. Hugh's name is also written in the books of the lives of all the children he loved and he continues to live through them.
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