Tuesday, November 29, 2016 2:25 pm

DAN WHITTLE

Was Child's Loving Hug a 'Pay It Forward' Moment?

Grief can strike anytime and from any direction as evidenced on a recent cold Sunday morning, a few weeks after Pat's 93-year-old mother, Katherine "Sis" Moser, died with deadly, slow-creeping Alzheimer's'.

Our grief initially had been somewhat gentled by caregivers at The Arbor's (in Smyrna) where "Sis" was swathed with love and grace until her last breathing moment.

Their loving nurturing, along with the professional and personal assistance of attendants Chuck and Thomas at Woodfin's Funeral Chapel, helped Pat stay strong through her mother's passing and ultimate celebration of life.

But due to my recent diagnosis of a rare blood cancer (5Q minus), our psyches are now hitting "emotional ground zero" over the loss of her Mother.

Professional caretakers advise most mere mortals cannot prepare for the loss of a parent, although we know death is coming after long-suffering illnesses.

Fast forward to a recent Sunday School (Life Group is a new term, but I'm old school) meeting at a Bojangles' eatery, where a child, a stranger actually, walked boldly up to our Bible Study asking to "hug" this tired old writer's neck.

I still don't know the sweet, handsome boy's name, but when his little arms gently encircled my neck with pure honest Godly love, Pat and my hearts soared, along with all adults present.

What this child did churned up an old Thanksgiving Day memory.

Children up and down our farm road dearly loved elderly neighbor Poppy Gowen back in the 1940s.

With a glistening crown of snow-white hair, Poppy was a striking grand-father figure, especially to children.

One Thanksgiving morning, a neighbor child was surprised to find his Poppy pal reclining on the couch and in very weak condition.

After a brief visit, the child reached over and gently kissed and caressed Poppy on his regal crown of white hair, an act the boy had never done before.

Later that day, Poppy died of a stroke.

That long-ago Thanksgiving night, the grieving family shared with adult farm neighbors that Poppy's eyes had brimmed over with tears following the child's hug and kiss on his aging forehead.

I was that little boy.

Finally now, at age 72, due this recent little boy's embrace publicly in a restaurant, I'm able to share this very personal "Pay It Forward" memorable moment in life.

It was the milestone day 1, when at age 4, I learned that death is a part of life.

Amen!