Reverend Kirkpatrick rose to end the service. Listening to the last two speakers, he had felt a shift come over him. He knew he would forever regret his actions this day if he did not summon the courage to at least make mention of Danny. He hesitated, looked out at the congregants, and noticed a woman with luminescent white hair sitting in the last pew, who seemed to know what was on his mind. This somehow gave him the reassurance he needed. He cleared his throat and began to speak without the slightest idea of what he was about to say, but confident that God would give him the right words.

“We have spoken of Rachel and Evan, but have not mentioned Danny.” He felt the congregation rustle uncomfortably in their seats and perceived a collective gasp. The reverend was quite aware that many people in town, including some of the elders in his church, had vehemently objected to the idea of including Danny in the service in any manner.

“However, I would be remiss if I did not at least remind us all that he, too, was a child of God, and that he, too, has passed into another life, prematurely, and will be missed.” Steve and Debby Turner looked down and then back up at the reverend with deep gratitude. To them, of course, Danny was their little boy, and would always remain so.

“Most faiths embrace the concept of forgiveness, but for those of us who are Christians, we know that Jesus told us to ‘above all else, love one another,’ and that His words on the subject of forgiveness knew no bounds, even right up to the moment He uttered His very last few words, when He asked His father to forgive those who had persecuted Him because He knew they did not understand what they were doing. I ask that you each search your own hearts and attempt to find that same forgiveness, not only for Danny, but for anyone in your life whom you may feel you need to forgive, perhaps beginning with yourself.

“When Jesus was asked how we should pray, he spoke the words we no w call “The Lord’s Prayer.” So, please let us all stand, and hold the hand of the person next to us, and as we recite these words, I pray we set aside our grievances and listen with an open heart as if we were hearing them for the first time.”

Initially, when the group stood and reached out to one another, the discomfort was palpable; yet by the time the end of the prayer was near, the timbre had escalated and the sanctuary reverberated with these familiar words:

“And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, amen.”