Wish

Her tiny hand seemed lost in hers as they walked along the road leading back home. It was an exceptionally warm day most noticeable on the brow of the old woman. Tiny beads of sweat formed rows until they gathered and ran down her face. She, mopping them up with a handkerchief ladies of her age and time always kept handy, seemed not to be bothered at all.

"It's hot grandma!" the young girl said.

"It's been hotter!" grandma replied.

Then looking down at the child she thought perhaps for her sake they would sit awhile.

"Let's make our way over there 'neath the tree. I can sit on that rock and you can rest in the shade," grandma said.

They settled down and in doing so noticed a butterfly nearby.

"Now, there's a pretty sight," grandma said.

The little girl got up and walked over to the flower where the butterfly had landed.

"Do butterflies feel hot?" she asked.

Grandma thought for awhile and said, "With all that flappin' in the wind I think they keep pretty cool."

"I wish I were a butterfly then," the child said. Then she began to flap her arms. "But that takes a lot of work, whew!"

She then saw a few ants marching in a row carrying little pieces of something of value to them.

"Grandma, do ants get tired?" she asked.

"Well, not as tired as I get working so hard. They seem to go all day. Sometimes at night, too."

The little girl watched them intensely.

"I wish I were an ant." she said. Then, she started marching around the tree carrying the groceries they had just purchased at the store.

"I'm tired already just from walking around," she said and then sat back down next to grandma.

"You wish for a lot of things, child," grandma said.

"Yes, I do. How else can you get them?" she said. "I wish I had everything I wanted."

"Do you get what you wish for all the time?" grandma asked.

"Nah, I wish and I wish and nothing happens," she said.

"Accept that time I wish that Johnny Jeffries would stay home from school. He always picks at me."

"What happened to him?" grandma asked out of curiosity.

"Ah, his grandma died and he..." she stopped suddenly realizing what she had just said.

She then looked up at her grandma as her eyes filled with tears.

"Grandma," she struggled to finish. "I wish that you would never.." She stopped and hugged her grandma as she cried.

Grandma held her tightly understanding the trials and challenges of being a child. She never said a word until the young girl stopped.

Then, as the child began to pull away slowly, grandma saw a once in a lifetime opportunity for one of those grandma moments.

"Child, the problem with most people is they spend their life

wishin' and not doin'.

They wish they had a house, a car, and lots of money. They wish they'd fall in love with someone special and some after a few years wish they'd met someone else.

The problem with wishin' is God's not in it. God doesn't make wishes come true. He answers prayers. God rewards people for hard work, not fancy wishin'."

She stopped for a moment and took her handkerchief and wiped the child's tears.

"If you want something, work for it, then pray for it. If God wants you to have it, you'll get it when He believes best."

The young child then stood up and standing in front of grandma, said, "Then how do I work to keep you around forever?"

"Keep lovin' me like you do, say your prayers and don't waste time on wishin'.

Someone can wish something for you, but you have to work for it.

Wishin' is what you do when it's too late. You wish you had worked harder, loved more and prayed for God's help."

"I love you grandma!"

"I know you do."

They then gathered their belongings and continued on the road towards home.

Life is a road that always leads home when you believe in the God Who answers prayer.

"I wish you enough!"
J
~ Bob Perks ~

Good news - Bob Perks' first book, "I Wish You Enough," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments... is now available for ordering. Here's the "Link" to get your copy of Bob's book: I Wish You Enough from Amazon.com.

[ by: Bob Perks Copyright © 2011 (2believe@comcast.net) -- {used with permission} ]