So young, but so wise. James Van Der Beek‘s daughter Emilia shared the most thoughtful video on her father’s first birthday since his passing, in which she opened up about how she’s dealing with the grief of his loss.
As Perezcious readers know, the Dawson’s Creek star died on February 11 at age 48 after a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. It’s been a devastating loss for so many, but none more so than his family, including wife Kimberly and their kids, Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, Joshua, and Jeremiah.
Related: Will & Grace Actor Corey Parker Dead At 60 After Cancer Battle
Sunday marked his first birthday since his death. The Varsity Blues alum would have turned 49. His wife took a trip down memory lane, sharing many family photos on Instagram. She later shared a beautiful video her 9-year-old daughter Emilia requested to make, in which she opened up about the difficult loss and shared “little tips” for others experiencing grief. She began:
“So today is my dad’s birthday, and the number one thing for somebody’s passing is to talk to them and let your emotions out. If you miss them, you can cry. You can talk to them. I talk to my dad every day. I start with a sentence, and I say, ‘Hi, Dad. I miss you, and I love you so much, and I’ll never stop loving you.’ I just tell him about my day, how I’m feeling, and I told my family how I’m feeling. And I know he can hear me, but I can’t hear him.”
She went on to insist:
“You have to feel them in your heart, because they’re in your heart. They’re watching over you. They’re a part of your body and in a good place.”
Addressing her father, she continued:
“I know that my dad’s in a good place. He’s not in pain anymore. He’s in heaven above the clouds with God and the Lord.”
The little kiddo said you should “be happy they’re in a good place,” but acknowledged it’s okay to still “be sad because you miss them.” She explained:
“Everybody has different emotions in their body, and they express it in different ways. Many, many different ways. And don’t let anybody tell you that. Be like, ‘No, you don’t know how I feel.'”
She also urged that “everything is meant to happen for a reason,” noting:
“Something my dad told me was if this doesn’t work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have to believe in miracles. Miracles can still happen, just later on in life, and they’ll keep coming.”
Aw. So powerful.
Emilia also shared that she “stole” her dad’s hat after he died to remember him:
“My dad’s hat smells like him, and I love it so much.”
She reflected:
“I know that he was a good man. A lot of people loved him, and people prayed for him, and he was loved by … many, many people.”
She even thanked supporters for donating to the family’s GoFundMe page. So sweet! Watch the full video:
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What a wonderful way to pay tribute to her father and to inspire other kids who’ve lost a parent or loved one. Expressing your emotions is SO healthy while processing a tragedy like this! We’re sending our love to this whole family! 
[Image via MEGA/WENN & Kimberly Van Der Beek/Instagram]
