may 2012
CityLight.org 15
our hearts harden. He encouraged us to choose
forgiveness. We celebrated Lola's life. We had
communion in celebration of her life. It was
evident that at the young age of 2, she had
brought joy to many. It was at that moment
that I began my journey from anger, pain and
hate to forgiveness and love.
I know this is a very sad story. I've tried to
find the words to tell you how Lola's death has
impacted my life, but there are no adequate
words to describe the pain, anger and despair
that I've felt from her death. Sometimes the
feeling of despair becomes so overwhelming,
so oppressive, that it literally takes my breath
away. I never know what sound or what sight is
going to trigger my mind to think of the pain
she experienced on that final day of her abuse.
Lola was my granddaughter. The realization
that she is gone hits my heart and it is dev-
astating. She did not deserve to be so cruelly
taken. I was robbed of the opportunity of get-
ting to know her.
Choosing to forgive is an incredible power.
Forgiveness is a power we share with God. A
power Jesus gives to all He indwells so that
reconciliation can grow. First we have to make
a choice to forgive. When Jesus forgave those
who nailed him to the cross, they were no lon-
ger in his debt. Forgiveness released me from
allowing my heart to be harden. I could not
allow my pain to destroy me or my ability to
love fully and openly, separating me from God.
The man that took Lola's life could not give her
reported that 225lb, 22-year-old Dannie Floyd
Nichols was arrested facing a charge of homi-
cide by child abuse. Lola sustained fatal head
and internal injuries while in his care.
We did not attend the visitation at the
Funeral Home on Friday evening, Oc-
tober 16, 2009. There was so much publicity
on Lola's death. The phone rang non-stop. We
didn't want to get caught up in the News Me-
dia frenzy. The location and time of her funeral
had been announced several times on Satur-
day morning and it was held at 11:00am. My
husband and I attended the funeral on Sat-
urday. It was a beautiful service. Lola's family
members were very pleasant, considering the
circumstances. My Mom, several of our fam-
ily members, several friends, and acquaintances
also attended the funeral service. My son was
so stricken with grief, he couldn't attend. He
said he didn't know if he would be able to con-
trol his anger.
The Pastor preached a very appropriate mes-
sage. He preached about Lola's life, her history
in the church. He knew her personally. She was
not just another child at the church. She par-
ticipated in the service. He talked about where
she sat on Sunday mornings. It was wonderful
to hear that, because of her great grandmoth-
er's influence, Lola was a member of a church
family. The Pastor made it perfectly clear that
God did not need another angle. God did not
cause this tragedy to happen. He made it per-
fectly clear that it was sin that killed Lola. He
encouraged us to continue to love and not let
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