Through the Open Floor

The child woke up and looked around her room. It was unfamiliar to her and the usual comforting feeling wasn't present. She felt...different...and didn't know what else to think. She thought that she better call out for her mother and make sure that everything was okay.

"Mom!"

There was no answer.

"Mom!"

There was still no answer and she realized that the door to the hallway was closed.......that door is never closed!

"MOM!!"

"She's not here....."

The little girl jumped from her bed and looked frantically around the room.

"Who said that?!"

The crack under the door erupted into a white light and then it slowly opened to reveal the silhouette of man standing in the doorway.

"Don't be afraid...it is me...Grandpa J."

The little girl peered into the light and saw that it was indeed her Grandfather! How could this be? He had died one year earlier!

"Grandpa....I don't understand....how are you here?"

He walked slowly into the room and knelt down next to his granddaughter.

"My love...you are actually the one who is here. Let me show you."

He held out his hand and the little girl intertwined her small fingers with his. They walked to the bedroom door and opened it slowly. The white light was blinding as they stepped out into the hallway. All of a sudden, the little girl sucked her breath in quickly.

The floor was gone!

She quickly grabbed onto her grandfather and waited for them to start falling. She felt a strong hand gently pat her on the head and she glanced down with great hesitation.

"What happened to the floor?" she asked innocently.

"We don't need it here." Her grandfather responded "Look down. Do you see where we are?".

The little girl peered down and saw a small bed with what appeared to be a doll lying in it. There were two adults sitting next to the bed and they appeared to be crying. The adult woman was holding onto the man next to her and the shoulders of both seemed to be heaving.

"Why are they so sad?" she asked.

"Their little girl is sick." He responded with a heavy voice.

"Oh...that must really hurt." and with that the little girl again peered down at the drama unfolding beneath her. She felt a tear drop onto her head and she looked up to see her grandfather crying.

"Why are you sad?"

"Because that woman crying is my daughter."

The little girl quickly turned back to the room below and felt her chest tighten with fear.

"Mom.........Dad........." she said in barely a whisper.

The little girl watched as her parents held each other tightly...they seemed so sad. Her eyes kept being drawn back to the doll in the bed...it looked so familiar. She squinted with great effort and tried to bring everything into better focus.

Then it hit her. That wasn't a doll, that was her! She wheeled around and yelled,

"How can I still be in bed and here at the same time? Why are my parents so sad!"

Her grandfather kneeled down next to her and kissed her gently on the forehead and then the memories started to flow.

At first she remembered the pain, the needles, the monitors, and the scary machines that made her sick. She recalled seeing her hair fall out, more monitors, ambulances, faceless doctors, and teenagers delivering gifts during Christmas. She remembered sitting on her mothers lap staring out the hospital window watching the world go through its seasons. She could feel the ball hitting her hand while playing catch with her dad in the corridor of the children's wing. The biggest thing that kept coming into her memory was the unbelievable amounts of pain. Pain in the morning, pain in the afternoon, and pain in the evening. She hated the pain.

"I'm dead aren't I?" she asked to no one in particular.

"No...God told me to come get you...there was to much pain." Her grandfather said gently.

"I'm still dead."

"Move your arms and legs" her grandfather urged.

She began to twist her arms and swing her legs back and forth. It felt different than it ever had before...but why? Then she realized....

There was no pain. The pain was gone.

She looked up at her grandfather and he gave her a wink.

"God loves you and is always with you. Teach the world about Him and enable others to see His love. Live your life as God would intend."

The white light grew brighter and everything became blurry once again.

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Her eyes slowly opened and she saw her mother and father quietly crying at the side of her bed. She moved her arms and legs just to make sure that it had not been a dream. She smiled as they moved freely and without pain.

"Mom.....Dad....." she whispered.

They composed themselves and looked down at their daughter.

"Yes, honey."

"Grandpa says hi."

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At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

Matthew 11: 25 - 26