SPRING BREAK

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him
while He is near."  Isaiah 55:6

      It was Spring of 1990 and I had just returned from a ministry trip to Australia.  It had been a long, exhausting trip and I was bone-tired.  What I needed was a good week's rest to recover from jet-lag and catch up on much needed sleep.

      I arrived home on Saturday night and my eight-year-old granddaughter Melody, and her beloved dog Katy, a Chinese pug, were to come on Monday for a few days visit during Spring break.  I soon discovered that this was going to be an unusual visit. Melody was full of questions about God.

      One afternoon she asked, "If I talk to God, will he answer me?"  "Go out to a quiet place in the yard and talk to God; see if He will answer you,"  I replied, thinking that should keep her busy for awhile and maybe I can get some rest.  Soon Melody came skipping back to the house all smiles and reported excitedly, "Yes, God talked to me!"  All afternoon Melody followed me around asking such as:  "Grammy, what is heaven like?  Is it up above the clouds?"

      At last, it was bedtime.  Melody did not want to sleep in the guest bedroom, but insisted on spreading a sleeping bag on the floor beside my bed.  There Melody and Katy settled down for the night, so I thought.  Before long Katy decided it would be more comfortable on my bed.  Well, my single bed is not big enough for myself and a dog, especially a snorting, Chinese!  I ignored her wounded look as I eased her back down onto the sleeping bag with Melody.

      Thinking that at last I could look forward to a peaceful night, I said to Melody, "Grammy, is going to read her Bible now, so you say your prayers and go to sleep."  I settled in with my Bible.

      Grammy, how do you get to go to heaven?  she asked.  I laid my Bible down and began explaining.  "Well, Melody, you need to confess that you have sinned, and then you ask Jesus to come into your heart."  Excitedly, she replied, "I want to do that!"  I wanted to make sure she realized that this was no trivial matter.  "This is serious business, Melody."  She insisted, "I want to go to heaven; tell me what to say."  I opened my Bible to Romans 10:9,10 and read:
                  
                        That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"  
                        and believe in your heart that God raised him from the
                        dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that
                        you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth
                        that you confess and are saved.

      Folding her hands together to pray, Melody closed her eyes and stated in a slightly wavering voice, "Dear Jesus, I am sorry for my sins.  Please come into my heart."  I forgot how tired I was as we rejoiced over this important event.  I kissed her goodnight again and said happily, "Melody, you are going to sleep tonight a child of Go!  Grammy is so glad!"

      Finally, Melody went peacefully to sleep, and the only sound to be heard was an occasional snort from Katy the rest of the night.

        The next day I gave Melody a Bible, whereupon she wrote on the inside cover:

                        Dear God, I am so glad I gave my heart to Jesus.  I want my
                        mama and daddy to go to heaven too.

      Just then Melody turned to me and tearfully asked "Grammy, do you think my mama and daddy will go to heaven?"  I replied, "I cannot answer that, Melody, but I suggest you start praying for them every day, and remember, God hears every prayer."

      Later that same day, Melody came rushing into the house exclaiming, "Grammy, I want Katy to go to heaven too!"  I replied, "Well, Melody, I don't think she can--do you know why?"  She stood there twirling some strands of her long brown hair and finally spoke thoughtfully, stating sadly, "Oh! I know why---Katy can't say it with her mouth."

      Then I explained, "I don't know what provision God has made for animals since the Bible does not mention anything about it as far as I have determined.  We should not dwell on things we can't possible know, just leave it in God's hands."

      All too soon, it was time for Melody and her faithful pug, Katy, to return home.  However, this visit, where God had plans for Melody that I knew nothing about, shall remain in my memory as the highlight of our many happy times together as Melody grew up.