It was mommy’s birthday and the kids found a birthday cake with her favorite crème icing. This mom had reason to be grateful. A routine medical checkup found cancer that is being treated and a follow-up procedure hopes to keep this miserable disease in remission. However, she was anxious about her mother who was taken to the hospital on her birthday. Later in the day, she learned that the kid’s grandma‘s cancer had returned with a vengeance.
Grandma told her daughter to take the grandkids to Disney World and enjoy a few days in the sun and not to worry. At my suggestion, mom skipped mouseland and we took her kids on a thrilling airboat ride into Alligator Cove in Florida. The kids got to see Florida no one ever sees anymore. There were gators, eagles, “I-bends” better known as egrets, and real cows grazing in the marshes.
As all moms do, she mustered the courage to let her kids celebrate her birthday despite her fears about their grandmom. We held hands around the table and prayed to Jesus to take care of grandma. You could see the tired and worried look on her face. Then her beautiful children sang Happy Birthday. Suddenly after the last refrain, I believe an angel entered the room and whispered this message into the heart of her son when he immediately popped up and said that there’s a second verse to Happy Birthday. A little stunned, we sat in silence and awe as this choir boy on earth sang these sweet words: “May the dear Lord bless you, May the dear Lord bless you mommy! May the dear Lord bless you.”
His words pierced an anxious and aching heart. His tender voice and healing message was like a soothing balm for a troubled soul. Needless to say, mommy reached over the table and gave her son a hug, then she squeezed her daughter and I could see her holding back a tear. I can only imagine that her birthday wish was an urgent plea to God to save her dear mom and keep their grandma safe.
There are moments when no words can express the sorrow and pain. We look for answers but we shed only tears. This “little one” was blessed with a sacred revelation. His song came from the heart of Jesus. A sign that God indeed hears our desperate prayers. I can still hear his sweet voice as he sang with all his heart to his mommy these words: “May the dear Lord bless you.”
Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelations 21: 4-5).
Lord, I promise to pray for all my Sonshine Friends who feel the shroud of death and despair. Help us to surrender our fear and allow the voice of Jesus to pierce our darkness with words of courage and hope that he indeed will make all things new. May the Dear Lord Bless You!
