Remembering Hell (14 page)

AFTERWORD

The Parable of the Little Bird…

Once there was a little bird that
did not fly south for the winter. She was so happy with that decision that she
sat on her branch singing a happy tune. It got so cold, the bird froze and fell
to the ground in a large field. While she was lying there, a cow came by
and said, “Poor little bird.” Then turned around and dropped a cow pie on her.
She was very surprised, but was also suddenly very warm. So she began to sing a
happy tune.

A passing cat heard the bird
singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird
under the pile of cow dung. “Poor little bird,” the cat said and promptly dug
her out, cleaned off every single feather, then opened up his mouth and ate her
in one gulp!

The moral of the story is:

Not everyone who shits on you is
your enemy.

Not everyone who gets you out of
shit is your friend.

And when you're in deep shit, but
you are warm? Sing a happy tune!

Yes, it’s another Hell story. Much
to my own surprise. I thought after I had written Awake In Hell that I was done
with Louise. I had told her story of redemption and forgiveness, and she ended
up in Heaven, so what else was left?

Turns out she had a few more
lessons to learn, as did I. I am still learning to let go and allow others to
take their own path. This is especially true for my children, who are just
starting to dip their toes into the pool of life. However, I am also still
learning from my own parents, which is kind of depressing since I am officially
middle-aged and should be wise by now, right? I am also a newlywed at this age,
and I am learning how to love in a lot of ways for the very first time.
Congratulations to everyone who got it right from the beginning, but for me I
have to say, there is something to be said for making that commitment at this
stage of life. With all the experiences, the life lessons, and even the baggage
that you bring to a relationship, it guarantees that you will never stop
learning from one another!

So I wanted to say Thank You for
coming back for more Louise, more Gabby, more Deedy, and welcoming with open
arms all the new guys. I hope whatever you saw in Awake In Hell, you are also
able to see in this.

I also wanted to say Thank You to
everyone who has been so great to me since this journey began four years ago. I
was so broken, and I wrote to heal my own heart and soul and find a path to
forgiveness. But so many of you have written, sent messages on Facebook, wrote
reviews on Amazon, or have come up to me to tell me in person that you were
also touched in some way by these books, and for that I will always be grateful.

I sincerely hope that each and
every one of you are happier today than you were yesterday. And I hope all your
tomorrows are wonderful!

Thank you, and Deedy Bless!

-Helen

Helen Downing
likes to describe herself as a trophy wife, a bit of a diva, and of course
Author of her own destiny! In reality, she's a chubby, middle-aged wife and
mother of two who is addicted to BBC Television and social networking.

Please buy this
book. It's her only chance of ever fulfilling her full potential, and possibly
getting into heaven.

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