George McDonald wrote to his sorrowing wife when their daughter died. He began by telling her that she wouldn’t find consolation in lovely but empty sentiments that he called “pleasant fancies of a half-held creed.” He then pointed out that the Great Shepherd had gone before and prepared the way for their daughter.

McDonald reminded her that they were both moving along day by day toward that same destination. In closing, he said, “We seek not death, but still we climb the stairs where death is one wide landing to the rooms above.”

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