When Dale was four years...
Illustration
When Dale was four years old, his mother was hospitalized for several weeks. Since
Dale's father was in the midst of putting in the spring crop, Dale was sent to stay with his
grandparents. In those days, children were not allowed in the hospital, and four-year-old
Dale was facing his first extended separation from his mother.
The first day went fine. Grandpa took Dale downtown for ice cream and to get the mail. Dale even turned the mailbox key, reached in the tiny slot and retrieved the mail. Grandma made Dale's favorite meal, pancakes and maple syrup, and they allowed him to watch television, something that Dale's family did not yet have on the farm.
But at bedtime, Dale began to miss his mother. He cried, stating emphatically that only mommy could tuck him in properly. Grandma sat on his bed and reassured him that his mommy would be coming home soon. But to a four-year-old, time has no meaning; two weeks might as well have been a year. He cried himself to sleep for most of those two weeks he spent at his grandparents. On the day that Dale's father picked up his mother, Dale was the happiest boy in town.
Jesus said he'd be back soon. I wonder if any of us are as homesick as Dale at Jesus' absence.
The first day went fine. Grandpa took Dale downtown for ice cream and to get the mail. Dale even turned the mailbox key, reached in the tiny slot and retrieved the mail. Grandma made Dale's favorite meal, pancakes and maple syrup, and they allowed him to watch television, something that Dale's family did not yet have on the farm.
But at bedtime, Dale began to miss his mother. He cried, stating emphatically that only mommy could tuck him in properly. Grandma sat on his bed and reassured him that his mommy would be coming home soon. But to a four-year-old, time has no meaning; two weeks might as well have been a year. He cried himself to sleep for most of those two weeks he spent at his grandparents. On the day that Dale's father picked up his mother, Dale was the happiest boy in town.
Jesus said he'd be back soon. I wonder if any of us are as homesick as Dale at Jesus' absence.
