Did You Have A Bad Dream?

Did You Have a Bad Dream?

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting with the grandmother of one of my precious daughters-in-law.  She lives in a lovely retirement center suite nearby and is working to adjust to life without her husband of more than sixty years.  As we chatted about this different stage of her life, I told her about a recent visit I had made to Mississippi to see our family there.  It was Grandparents’ Day in their school there, and I told her about how excited Amelia, Evie, and Gabe were to go to the school book fair and pick out some books to read.

GG, as the children call her, wanted to know what types of books each grandchild had selected.  I told her that Amelia loved the princess books, Evie wanted the books about ocean life, sharks, and dolphins, and Gabe chose books about everything from skeletons to dinosaurs to monster trucks.  GG began to laugh, as she told me how special each of the children are, including Nora who is just beginning preschool. 

Then, she said, softly, “I’ll never forget what Gabe did when they came to see us just before my husband died.  My husband was so sick.  He was just lying in his bed, and he was moaning, softly, just a little.  Everyone was standing around, feeling so helpless, when, suddenly, Gabe – not quite three years old at the time – climbed up onto the side of the bed, laying his little head right up next to Grandpa’s head.  As he patted Grandpa on the shoulder, he asked ‘Grandpa, what’s wrong?  Did you have a bad dream?’  He wasn’t afraid or upset.  He just wanted to comfort Grandpa.  I’ll never forget.”

In my mind’s eye, I can almost see the scene GG painted for me.  I can picture them as they lay side by side, on that bed, the two year old gently patting his sick great-grandfather, with the simple, childlike faith that senses those things so much bigger than the obvious.  I can almost grasp Jesus’ meaning in Luke 18:16-17, as he instructed the disciples to 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'  For just a fleeting moment, I believe that GG saw the comforting hand of Jesus in the sweet patting hand of that little boy.

Lord, please keep my eyes focused on you, my mind fixed on the truth of your Word, and help me to be motivated in all actions by the simple, childlike faith and love that – like You - never hesitates to reach out to others in need.

© 2011 Gerry Sisk

(10/05/11)