A Prayer

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."

-- Paul (Colossians 3:1-2)

She sat quietly by the shallow creek on an old fallen log. Her feet dangled in the cool water as warm tears streamed down her cheeks. Her face was dirty from rubbing her eyes with her grimy hands, and her messy hair spilled over her shoulders. The hurt of the past several days poured forth from her broken heart as her small frame trembled and quiet sobs escaped her lips.

She closed her eyes and was back at yard surrounded by a picket fence. The yard was filled with rows of wooden crosses. Near the back was a fresh mound of dirt with a new cross marking the grave of her little brother. Will had just turned six two weeks ago and now he was gone. He had been her best friend---the joy that pulled her through each day.

She swallowed and rubbed her red eyes. Her mind traveled back to the weeks before Will had died. The doctor did not know what was the matter with Will. They were to nurse the little boy and make him as comfortable as possible. Maybe he would pull through...but he did not. She sat by his bedside constantly. At times, her mother urged her to leave and get some rest or eat something, but the girl could not leave her brother.

The day before Will died, she sat by his bed as he came in and out of consciousness, and she burst into tears. Will opened his eyes and smiled at her, "Anna, don't cry. Don't you know I'll be going home soon?"

"Will, I don't want ya to leave. You're my best friend---I'll be all alone if you leave."

The six-year-old smiled and shook his head. "No you won't, Jesus will always be with you. You're the one who told me that, remember?"

Anna nodded, but tears still spilled down her cheeks. "I know, but I'll miss you so much. Who will go on walks with me in the forest or go fishing with me down by the creek? Who will help me climb trees or tell me what color the sky is when the sun is setting? You are my eyes, Will, and my legs---how will I make it without you. No one else cares like you do."

Will took her hand in his and whispered, "Anna, Mama always says to pray no matter what. Let me be your eyes one more time," He paused for a moment. "Jesus, soon I'll be coming home to be with You and I am exited and happy, but Anna is sad because she can't come yet. Help her not to give up. Please be her eyes since I won't be here anymore to help her see. When she can't see how beautiful the pink and golden sunset is let her heart remember that one day she'll see You. And when she can't remember how the creek winds around the countryside like a snake, its crystal water overflowing the banks and watering the spring flowers then help her understand that one day she'll see the New Earth You’re going to make which will be much better than our little creek here. And when she doesn't have anybody to pull her up our special tree fort or help her walk in the fields please remind her that someday she'll be able to run with me when she's finally home. Help her see what eyes can't see, but only faith can. Amen."

His eyelids drooped and his breathing became shallower. He squeezed Anna's hand and then passed back into unconsciousness. Anna suppressed her sobs. Her mother knelt by the bed next to her---tears streamed down her own eyes.

"Oh, Mama, I need him. I don't want God to take him."

Anna's mother wrapped her arms around her and stroked her brown hair. "I know, Anna, but Will is not ours. He belongs to Jesus and we must be willing to let him go no matter how much it hurts."

"But my heart will be broken forever." Anna sobbed.

"God may break our hearts, Anna, but He is also the one who heals them. Remember what your brother just prayed---see what only faith can see."

"But what is that?"

"That this life is not the end---that someday we will be where Will is going---where Jesus is. Fix your eyes on eternity, Anna, on what will never end."

Anna returned from her memories of Will and found herself still on the bank of their little creek. She missed her brother more then words could express. She felt like her world was now darker than it ever had been before. However, as she sat on the log, she remembered her brother's prayer and decided to see what only faith could see. Someday the dark world she lived in would melt into glorious beauty and she would be able to walk, run, and climb.

"Jesus, let me see what only faith can see. Let me know that this is not the end."

She stood up from her log and reached for her sturdy walking stick. She limped down the path that led to her house where her mother would be preparing dinner and her father would be cleaning up from a long day of plowing in the fields. Life continued on, and someday Anna knew that her darkness would be turned to light.