hhassell99's Full Review: Linda Deymaz - Mommy, Please Don't Cry: There Are ...
This is a review is being submitted as part of the National Bedtime Story Month writeoff hosted by Phineaskc and Angelabar. I had several ideas in my mind, and finally decided on Goodnight Moon. However, when I reached for the book, my heart led me to another favorite. No, it is not a bedtime story for just my kids. It is a bedtime story for me, as well.
I was alone, confused, and scared of the thought that my daughter had ceased to exist. I would go to sleep with great trepidation, I was tired of the nightmares, terrified of the pain. I had gone into a cycle of dreaming, hoping, believing, only to wake up and relive my daughter's death time and time again.
A very special woman reached out to me. She asked me if she could send me a book. She warned me that it was highly religious. I told her it didn't matter. Even in my times of athiestic tendencies, I still find peace in the words of scripture. When I checked the mail a few day's later, I found waiting for me Mommy, please don't cry.
I opened the front cover, and I saw a note from the author written in her handwriting. "May this book bring hope and healing in the loss of your baby. Love, Linda DeYmaz." as I turned to the title page, I took note of the subtitle "Tender Words for Broken Hearts." Then I saw the dedication "...to mothers everywhere who have experienced the deep sorrow of losing a child." In two pages, before the story had even began, I started to feel peace.
The book has a beautiful introduction, titled "From one Mother to Another." The author writes that we are mothers from the moment of conception. She describes the hopes and dreams we have from the instant the pregnancy is confirmed. And she talks about how that "...world shatters like fine china." This was a very powerful introduction, one that is private, for me, and not shared with my son when we choose this book to read at night.
The book is filled with beautiful illustrations, consisting of angels and children of a wide variety of ethnical representations. The children are happy, smiling, and depicted with a variety of familiar religous figures.
The illustrations correlate well with the words that are written tenderly throughout the book. The short story is written from a child's perspective, assuring a mother of the joys of the afterlife. The child talks about the fun he/she is having playing at the park, the words surrounded by a picture depicting the joys of children on playground equipment. We see the child meet Noah and Jesus. We learn that when a child falls, he feels no pain in heaven. We are told of birthday parties with decorations and goodies galore. We know that they are not scared, that the angels are tucking them in at night. And the story concludes with the child saying that s/he will be waiting for his/her mommy - the picture shows an angel standing behind a child.
The preceding paragraph in this article describes the story I share with my son at night. We talk about how wonderful the thought of his sister having fun must be. It is reassuring, if only because it gives hope of being reunited one day.
After the story is concluded, there are four pages giving information about heaven as told from the scriptures. It is helpful for someone who has faith in the bible and their religious beliefs, and perhaps even for someone who is on the cusp of agnosticism and christianity. Because the quotes are both Old and New Testament, I don't know how helpful it would be for someone of Jewish faith.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book are two pages at the end titled "My Thoughts". These are blank lined pages and are a great opportunity to write down your emotions before, during, or after reading this book. I can't explain how theraputic I find it to reflect on my past writings, and see the progress I have made as a person.
I still awaken in the middle of the night with my heart racing and my soul panic stricken. However, I can pick up this short story, read it, and once again be at peace. When my son expresses his sorrow at the loss of his sister, he will ask for this book. I know the words are comforting to him as well, and I feel that the bonding between the two of us during our readings is more powerful than words can describe. Many a night he has fallen asleep with the tender words of Linda DeYmaz in his soul, his thoughts filled with the heart-warming artwork of Sabrina Smith.
This book was given to me in memory of Sarah Noelle Franklin, and was written in memory of Alexndra Grace DeYmazwho died on Easter morning, 1995. I do not know Linda DeYmaz, but my heart goes out to her. I am writing this at Easter time, 2001. Six years without her daughter must be difficult, but I hope she knows the peace and comfort she has brought to many.
*In Memory of my precious little girl, Gabriella Heather Robinson. Her earthly body has died, but her spirit continues to live in my soul.
~Heather
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Please take a moment to read the other reviews by the following participants:
Mommy, Please Don't Cry is a book of love and comfort for mothers who have experienced the deep sorrow of losing a child. Serene illustrations frame g...More at HotBookSale
Be encouraged by a child s tender description of heaven, surrounded by peaceful illustrations. Written by a mother who experienced the loss of her chi...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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