A tiny blond, blue eyed girl lay on a blanket beneath the bright blue summer sky, The tall grasses of the meadow waved softly in the light breeze. I listened to the sound of the leaves as they wind rippled through them and the cicadas as they sang their summer songs. The blue jays scolding through the woods along the side of the meadow and the robins gave their happy songs to the creator as they went about their hoping along and flying from tree to tree. The chickadees flitted about the tiny branches of the brush singing chickadee dee dee. The wild yellow iris were growing every where and some were in my sweaty little hand along with wild daisies and bracken ferns. The mountain air was pungent with the deep pine smell. I picked up little sticks to create some Bible seen from the story mama read the night before at family worship.
Jesus, He loves little children, He always does. Those pictures in the Bible story books of the little children sitting with Jesus. I wanted to be the little girl sitting in His lap feeling the scares in His hands. I wanted everything I did to please Jesus. I wanted to sing and share His love with people. I could’t understand why people would want to do bad things to hurt other people. Say mean things, raise their voices, do bad things. I had already been hurt so badly. But let me share with you how I learned how much Jesus cared for children.
I had an amazing family, my great grandparents. Howard and Fern Williams. I do believe they instilled the most amazing values in many of our family members. I know they instilled them in my mother and they instilled them in me. They have left very big shoes to fill.
I can remember going to their house as a tiny girl. Listening for the whistling that would let me know where I could find that wonderful Godly man my great grandpa. He would give me a big hug with his strong wiry arms and set me back on the ground and hold his hand out. Slipping my tiny hand in his big strong work worn hand, we would go around behind the woodshed where the garden was. On the side of the woodshed and wood shop there was a sink for washing vegetables and your hands when dirty from working outside. There was a drinking fountain there too. Grandpa would pick me up and hold me while he turned the faucet. Icy cold mountain spring water came spilling out and I drank my fill. Wiping the water from my face with my tiny hand I reached for his. I knew what was coming next. One of my favorite things about going to their house. The Cellar!!!! oh the smell was so wonderful with pungent apples and the cool earth. Pulling the string to turn on the light I could choose one of the kinds of apples I liked best. What a juicy, sweet and crisp treat that was.
Sabbaths...from the day we were born my brother and I were in Sabbath school and church. I remember getting up on Sabbath morning. On Friday my pretty pink gingham dress would be pressed and laid out. My tiny little black patent leather shoes were polished and ready. Mama would comb all the snarls out and smooth it with the spray bottle and a brush. All the while going over our memory verses and singing songs. Kenny too would have his clothes pressed and laid out and his shoes polished. Mama had his hair slicked down with Dipity Doo. Then we would be off for church the 7 mile trip down the mountain. There was the narrow dirt road that wound down until it met the paved. I was always looking for the tiny Spring Beauties if it were spring and the Indian Paint Brushes if it were summer. Or maybe the California Poppies waving their happy faces to their Heavenly Father. None the less there were so many things to turn your mind to Jesus.
After church we would meet with family and have a good meal. Then we would be taken on nature walks and were told stories. They came alive as the lessons were pointed out in the creation around us. Singing, guitars and pianos. That was Sabbath. Reading our Bible lessons from the Little Friend or the Primary Treasure. There were fun stories there too.
Through my loving family I learned that there is a God and He knows every pain that little children go through. I learned that He wanted to talk to me. How did the little song go?" Whisper a prayer in the morning, whisper a prayer at noon, whisper a prayer in the evening to keep your heart in tune. God answers prayer in the morning, God answers prayer at noon, God answers prayer in the evening so keep your heart in tune."
I also loved the one that Aunt Margie taught us but I can't remember all of the words. It went something like this. "In a meadow by a stream He's there, on a mountain by a tree He is there. God answers prayer. " I know that I have the words all messed up. But these taught me that Jesus cared. He loves children.
So there you have it. Through the horrible pain I had been through I knew that Jesus would listen to me. He was holding this little girl close in His loving arms, when I was alone. This picture above was the absolute truth. Jesus was holding me tight. So my first thing this month that I am thankful for is my Jesus a friend of little children.
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