Expressions of Sympathy for Little David

David Stephen Powrie, twenty month old third beloved child and first son of Tim and Shirley Powrie died on Christmas day in 1978. The whole family was gathered for earlier Christmas day before dispersing to other Christmas engagements. In the joy and busy-ness of the gathering, someone left the gate to the swimming pool open. David wandered in, fell in and drowned before he was found by his mother. He was rushed to the hospital and declared dead after they tried to revive him.

Some precious words of condolence from some loved ones - kept all these years:

May the love that still surrounds you be a source of comfort at this time. Our sincere sympathy at a seemingly untimely passing of a loved one. Denise, Malcolm(Young) and children.

I have not written because I have not known what or how to tell you how Bernie and I really feel about your baby grandson... we are constantly thinking of you all and remembering you in our prayers... May you be comforted and sustained and please give our love to Shirley and Tim, Inez and Syd. Muriel and Bernie (Hubert).

In my thoughts and prayers. Mabel Donly.

My dear Ken
Philippa's news on the loss of your first Powrie grandson shocked us terribly - more so as we were all talking at Christmas Eve about your grandchildren, David in particular.
I suppose there is a reason for everything that happens, but I wonder why a little innocent child should be taken when for the last year we have had constant trouble and worry from a 50 year old man (Wally's brother) since his coma on Dec 16th 1977 - a chronic diabetic and alcoholic (with brain damage as a result of the coma). This has broken up all the happy family relationship - each laying blame on the other for his (Cecil's) state of mind - which is why we had such a quiet Christmas. Sorry - I'm just letting off steam Ken, but why should Cecil have been saved last December, and David lost this year? Please don't mention this to Wally (or in front of him) as it would just worry him even more than he has been for the past 12 months.
Pixie (my father's sister) phoned last night - she was very shaken and upset, and has advised Ruth and Margery (two of my mothers sisters) - the latter has been in hospital since 2nd Dec with a very bad case of Shingles. I think she said Phil did not want her to phone you people but can't be sure.
We have seen no notices in the newspaper regarding the funeral arrangements but would not attend as think you would prefer it very private with only close family.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers, and let us hope that 1979 will be happier and more peaceful all round. 1978 has not been a good year.
Love from us all to you all.
Betty (Hall - my father's other sister)

We were so saddened when we heard about your small grandson's going. Please know that we think of you and your beloved children in our prayers.
Here is a lovely prayer which brings great comfort -

CHILDHOOD
"I'll lend you for a little while a child of Mine" he said
For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be six or seven years or twenty two or three,
But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charm to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You'll have his memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught down there, I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over in search for teachers true -
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call him back again,
I fancy that I heard them say "Dear Lord thy will be done
For all the joy Thy child shall bring the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness, We'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay;
For should the angels call for him much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
(by Hope Minne I later discovered)
With love to you all and Tim and Shirley.
Osburn Family.

So sorry to be late in sending your our feelings of sympathy in your recent sad loss. I only heard the news yesterday. Having lost my firstborn son at the age of nine years, I can assure you, I understand and feel your loss.
Our Father plucked that little choice spirit for Himself, full knowing his value, for don't we select only the best of the crop when we pick?
The family joins me in sending you our sincere sympathy.
The Collins Family.

Dear Philippa and Kenneth
As you wrote to tell us of your sad news, we presume you do not want to be telephoned.
We can only tell you that we are deeply sorry for you all and hope that somehow you will be comforted.
With much love Paul and Pixie (Dymond - Brother-in-law and sister)

Dear Philippa and Ken and Family
Just a little note to tell you that we think about you in your sorrow.
How blessed you are to know that you will again see your beloved little grandson.
We pray and know that you will find consolatrion in the Gospel.
With love, yours sincerely, Amy and Jan (Swanepoel)

I know that dozens of people must have written to you to say how sorry and shocked they were to hear of the tragic death of your grandson David. So I will not add to your sadness and grief by repeating how sad and shocked I was, but instead I am sending you a poem (which I know you heard me read some years ago at Ramah at a Cultural Evening, but you will not remember it) because I have sent it to a few mothers and fathers who have lost little ones both in and out of the Church and they have derived comfort from it. In fact Barbara Gordon-Carroll asked me to send it to Timothy because she had been so comforted by it.
I do not know Timothy and so I am sending it to your two dear friends and I send it in all sincerity and with my love and heatfelt sympathy.
Yours very sincerely, Hope Minne

There are two poems on one page so I am sending them both rather than separate them, and I think they both are relevant don't you? The second one you may know as it comes from a book called "The Prophet" . HM
(Unfortunately no poem with this letter.)
(I found the page with the two poems later... The poem above from the Osburn family was written by Hope Minne and the other by Kahlil Gibran is below)

"SPEAK TO US OF CHILDREN...
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backwards nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon upon path of the infinite and
He bends you with his might that the arrow might go swift and far.
Let not your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so also he loves the bow that is stable. "

My dear, dear Ken and Philippa,
Words are quite inadequate to express my sorrow on hearing today the news of your sad loss, incurred in such tragic circumstances. No one can be blamed for this.
All I can say is that time is a great healer, as we ourselves have discovered after the loss of our little grandson Clark,at the age of two.
May I also add that we derived great comfprt in the explanation given by Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith of the exaltation of little children in the Celestial Kingdom. Answers to Gospel Questions Volume 1, Chapter 15.
May your family members, especially the parents and grandparents, be so comforted.
Barbara joins me in expressing these sentiments.
Lots of love, Brian (Chater)

Dear Ken
I was shocked when you told me of the tragedy of your grandson. If we believe, we say he was born again as an angel in heaven.
I lost two, a girl and a boy, and I know how Tim feels about his loss - it is too hard a knock for a father to face and it is harder still for a grandfather to resist (I think) (that I know from my father).
Although I m not good in praying, I pray God to give Tim and his wife courage and patience. In the long run there will be compensation.
Sincerely, Nick (Antoun)

Also cards lovingly kept from
Johann, Lilian (Brummer) and family
Marie Kruger, Dickey and family
Roy and Judy (van Wesel)

A truly life-changing event for Tim, Shirley, Nicky and Jen, as well as Jay and Sue who were born after David drowned. Life changing too for the four grandparents as well as extended family - some of whom were there, as well as those who heard afterwards about the events of that day.
Some friends of ours STILL recall the day periodically.
This single life, this single event affected many people, in many ways - forever.

Three Booklets and Some Quotes

"Reader's Digest Fun Fare":

I chose these four funnies. I wonder which of the many Dad really enjoyed?

He looked out of the window and called to his wife, 'There goes the woman Bill Jones is in love with.'

She dropped the cup she was drying in the kitchen, hurtled through the door, knocked over a lamp, and craned her neck to see.

'Where?' she panted.

'There,' he pointed, 'that woman at the corner in the brown tweed coat.'

'You idiot,' she said. 'That's his wife.'

'Well, of course it is,' he replied.

- The Wall Street Journal

'The bride was anything but a tidy housewife. It bothered her no end until one evening her husband called from the hall somewhat dismayed: 'Darling,' he shouted, 'where's the dust on this table? I had a phone number written on it.'

- MS

My husband thoughtfully bought me an electric blanket, since I always complain about cold sheets. I was a little reluctant to sleep under all the electric wiring, but he assured me it was safe, and in no time I was dozing off contentedly.

What my husband did not know was that I had to put a ham in the oven to bake all night at a low heat.

When he awoke in the night and smerlt something cooking, he reached over and shook me. 'Darling!' he cried. 'Are you alright?'

-Mrs JR

This is the latest practical joke played by two teenagers. They put a toy phone and an alarm clock in a briefcase. Then they boarded a bus, and in a few minutes the alarm went off.

One of them reached in, turned off the alarm, drew out the telephone and said 'Hello' into it. He then handed the phone to his pal with: "It's for you.'

- Robert Sylvester

When I read the last one I looked to the front to see when the joke book was published - 1966!

"Great Words from Great Lives":

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

MARK TWAIN:

Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed down-stairs a step at a time.

-Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar

WINSTON CHURCHILL

Life is a test and this world a place of trial. Always the problems - or it may be the same problem - will be presented to every generation in different forms.

Speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1949

"The Psychologist Magazine" December 1966:

These are some of the fascinating titles:

The Art of Giving Presents

Do's and Don'ts of Conversation

Are You a Good Guest?

Patient Who Always Felt Anxious and Apprehensive

Surmounting Self-Pity

How to Build a Corageous and Strong Personality

Five Steps to Help You Develop the Spirit of Goodwill in Your Life

How to Practice Thought-Control

Ways for Putting Zest Back Into Your Life

Overcoming Self-Consciousness in Mixing With People

Organising to Avoid Nervous Strain and Get Things Done

The Great Value of Thinking You CAN Do It

How to Face Difficult Social Situations Successfully

*****************************

"Make Haste Slowly"

The times that we must hurry should be minimized.

In nine cases out of ten, the necessity for hurry comes only from our own attitude of mind, but hurry without excitement.

To hurry quietly is to most people an unknown thing. But if in the act of needful hurry we are constantly teaching ourselves to stop resistance by saying over and over, through whatever we may be doing, "I am perfectly willing to lose the train," that will help to remove the resistance, and so help us to learn how to make haste quietly.

- Annie Payson Call

"I live every day now as if it were the first day I had ever seen and the last I were going to see. I am excited about the daily adventure of living, nobody in a state of excitement will be unduly troubled with worries."

- WL Phelps

The Eternal Eve

Saved all these years and found amongst my Dad's papers -
Food for Thought...

THE ETERNAL EVE

"In the beginning of time, says an old legend from the Sanskrit, the god Tvashtri created the world. Out of the elements he created the sun and moon and stars, the hills and forests, and finally man himself.

All the solid elements were exhausted in the creation of man. So, when the time came to fashion woman, Tvashtri took the roundness of the moon, the curves of the creepers, the clinging of the tendrils, the trembling of the grass, the slenderness of the reed, the velvet of the flower, the lightness of the leaf, the quick glance of the fawn, the brightness of the sun's rays, the tears of the mist, the inconisitency of the wind, the timidity of the hare, the vanity of the peacock, the softness of the down, the hardness of diamonds, the sweet of honey, the cruelty of the tiger, the warmth of the fire, the chill of the snow, the chatter of the jay, the cooing of the dove.

All these he combined to make woman. And he gave her to man. And the man's days were filled with happiness, for now he had someone to share with him the pleasures of the world.

In the course of time, however, the man came to Tvashtri saying, "Lord, this creature that you have given me makes my life miserable. She chatters incessantly and teases me beyond endurance, never leaving me alone. She requires incessant attention and cries about nothing and is always idle, so I have come to give her back again. I cannot live with her."

So Tvashtri took her back. But eight days later, the man was at Tvashtri's door. "Lord," he said, "my life is lonely since the woman has gone. I remember how she danced with me, and laughed, and filled my heart with pleasure. I remember how she clung to me, and how sweet and comforting was her presence when the sun went down, and the darkness surrounded me."

So Tvashtri returned the woman, but a month later the man importuned him. "My Lord," he said, "I cannot understand it, but I am sure the woman causes me more annoyance than pleasure. I beg you, Tvashtri, to take her away again."

"Go you way and do the best you can," Tvashtri answered.

"But I cannot live with her," the man protested.

"Neither," said the god, "can you live without her."

By Lewis Hill Reader's Digest November 1972 p 163