When the Last Leaf Falls
by By Myers, Bill
Category: Religion , Devotional

What emotions fill the heart of a father whose child is struggling with cancer? Pastor Paul Newcombe feels them all. The fear. The hope. The heartbreak of seeing his spirited teenage daughter endure the ravages of a deadly disease. The tests of faith.Yet in the midst of Ally’s illness, love takes on a new richness. The tensions of chemotherapy and surgery find their release not just in tears but also in unexpected times of laughter as golden memories are cherished and new ones are created. The death-defying adventures of Dad on roller blades . . . Ally’s first driving lesson (insisting she begin with stick shift was a big mistake) . . . the visit to the art museum, young love, family food fights . . . through it all, the bond between a father and his daughter emerges, warm, humorous, poignant, triumphant.So, too, does the faith of Grandpa Newcombe. Having traded the pastorate for the paintbrush after a lifetime of ministry, his passionate quest is to express the love of God through his art. It’s a goal his best efforts never quite seem to capture. But while he may never paint his great work of art, he is definitely helping to shape another masterpiece . . . his granddaughter.Based on The Last Leaf, a short story by O. Henry, When the Last Leaf Falls is a celebration of family and faith filled with laughter and tears, and an unforgettable portrait of God’s unfailing love.