As the people of West Virginia continue to cope in the wake of the debilitating floods that pervaded the state last week, a small glimmer of hope arrived in the form of a child's prayer.
James Phillips' daughter heard the grave news about the flooding, which took the lives of 23 people, and wanted show her sympathies.
"Last night while my wife and I were cooking supper, we missed our daughter. When we found her in the den she was busy writing a letter," Phillips posted in a Facebook group called Appalachian Americans. "We asked her who she was writing to."
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As it turned out, Phillips' daughter was writing to the people of West Virginia, and asked him if he could post on Facebook "to let them know she was thinking and praying for them."
Accompanying his post is a photograph of the letter his daughter had been working on.
"Dear West Virginia families," the letter reads. "I am so sorry about the flooding. Alot (sic) of my family lives there but of what I know they are all fine. I hope you are also doing fine. Try to stay safe please. I saw a picture of Muddy Creek and some of the driveways and road was all washed out. I hope you are doing well and again please stay safe."
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The letter, shared on June 26, has collected nearly 3,000 shares and many supportive comments.
"Very sweet, kind, caring and compassionate child," wrote one individual. "A reflection of her parents. God bless you."
Wrote another commenter, who identified herself as a female firefighter: "It really makes that sad moment have a glimmer of hope to read such kind words."
Though the little girl's writing delivers a clear and powerful message all on its own, Phillips' caption captures why her words can have such an enormous impact.
"The heart of a child is so precious," he wrote.