Recently my grandchildren came to spend a few days with me. They had a wonderful
time splashing and playing most of a day in a new pool that had been set up just
for them. My grandson, aged seven, wanted to show me how he could do underwater
somersaults. When he did, however, the water backed up in his nose and hurt his
head something awful. After a few minutes, he was just fine, but later that
night, as he lay on his blanket before the television, he started to moan. The
headache had come back with such pain that all he could do was moan. Nothing I
did for him seemed to help.
I was hurting for him. "Well," I thought, "I will take him to the Lord in
prayer." I had read in Mark 10:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do
not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (NIV) As I
stroked my grandson's hair, I prayed.
The most amazing and gentle thing happened. Our cat, Flower, rose from my
granddaughter's lap and proceeded across the blanket until she reached my ailing
grandson. Then, ever so gently, she lifted a tiny paw and seemed to reach out
ever so softly to touch that hurting head. She nestled by my grandson's head and
lay quietly. Slowly my grandson raised his head and said, "Grammie, Flower is
working on it."
Well, I just sat there. There was an amazing gentleness in the room; everything
became so gentle. In about six minutes the boy looked up and said, "It is gone.
Grammie, Jesus sent Flower to help me!"
The headache gone, we rewarded Flower with a fresh boiled egg, and, with thanks
in our hearts, we sat for quite some time in that feeling of gentleness that
prevailed around us. We had no doubts that it was the Lord who said, "bring your
children to me."
Prayer: Lord, we are grateful that gentleness is one of the marks of Your ways
in dealing with Your people. Though we may be surprised at the ways Your
gentleness is revealed, give us eyes to see, and hearts ready to say, "Thank
You, Lord." In Jesus' name we pray, and in Jesus' name we say, "Thanks!" Amen.
Sandra Kay Taylor santaylors@aol.com
Westminster, South Carolina, USA
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