Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Milkshakes in Heaven

She was only seven years of age. Susie (not her real name) was very cute and loved by her friends who took turns pushing her mobility cart down the long hallways of our church. Coffee fellowship for the adults was often interspersed with screams of delight coming from the hallway.

My little friend had spina bifida but that did not stop her from smiling and laughing with her friends. Although she could not walk nor do so many of the things other children take for granted my little friend was happy and loved life. Periodically she had setbacks and would have to go to the hospital for treatment. I visited her as one of the ministers from her church. She smiled as we talked and after a little visit I left.

Very shortly after that visit my little friend died. Now, I had to break the news to another little girl that her friend had died and that she would no longer be able to push her down our church hallways in her mobility cart. Her friend was my daughter who was about the same age.

God,” I prayed, “give me words of wisdom and comfort that I might gently tell my daughter of her friend’s death.

It was Sunday morning and we were on our way home from church. I secured her seatbelt in the backseat and climbed behind the wheel. I called my daughter by name saying that I had something very important to share with her. “Yes, daddy" said the voice from the back seat.

I continued to pray, “Lord, give me the right words.

“Sweetheart, your friend Susie, well she died last evening. “ I waited for the crying to start but there was silence instead.

Then my little girl in the backseat began asking a series of questions.

“Daddy, do you suppose Susie is sleeping now?”
“Yes,” I replied she could very well be sleeping.”

“Daddy, does God have beds in heaven?”
“Yes, dear I suppose he does and they will be very comfortable beds.” Still there were no sounds of crying but more questions.

“Daddy, when Susie wakes up will she be able to run and play?”
“Yes, sweetheart she will be able to run and play because in heaven God takes away all suffering and pain.”

“Daddy, do you suppose Susie is playing right now?”
“Yes, dear she probably is playing right now.”

Then there was silence for a moment and I thought to myself what do I say when the crying starts and my little girl asks why her friend had to die. There were no sniffs just another question.

“Daddy?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Daddy, does God have milkshakes in heaven?”

Where do you go in the Bible for an answer to that one? I don’t recall the Bible every mentioning milkshakes but I replied in the affirmative anyway.

“Yes, dear if you like milkshakes God will have the best milkshakes that you have ever tasted!” Another brief moment of silence and then my little girl replied,

“Daddy, Heaven sounds like a pretty good place.”

If anyone heard sobs they probably came from me as I thanked the good Lord for allowing my seven year old to minister to me. “Yes dear, God has milkshakes in Heaven now let’s go home.”

Where she came up with that question I will never know. Perhaps she and Susie had talked about how good milkshakes were and if God has milk shakes, comfortable beds and allows crippled little girls to walk then Heaven sounds like a pretty good place.

Out of the mouths of babes!