In a small ramshackle house,
A little girl kneels beside her bed.
She prays to God every night,
To deliver her from this life.
Her parents are not at home now,
And she's very much afraid.
It's like this every week end,
But there's nothing she can do.
She doesn't go to school yet,
Because she's only four.
Besides they live so far away,
From any kind of town.
It's so very cold this winter,
And there's no wood for the stove.
There isn't even any electricity,
For the little girl to warm her hands.
The food is running low;
Only bread, peanutbutter and Jam.
She wishes her parents would return,
But knows that they won't.
So the little girl climbs into bed,
And covers up to her nose.
She looks across to her window,
And sees that it's beginning to snow.
She thinks that if she dies tonight,
That God will hold her tight.
Then she won't be afraid anymore,
And never be hungry and cold again.
Morning arrives much too soon for her,
But she is still alive.
She cuddles among her covers,
Not wanting to arise.
The sun is shinning thru the window,
And there's snow all over the ground.
All is quiet and pristine,
In it's white cleanliness.
As the morning begins to warm,
The little girl scuttles out of bed.
She dresses as warm as she can,
And goes outside to play.
She tries to build a snowman,
But fails so miserably.
After all she's only four,
And doesn't know about such things.
She returns to the house,
And sits on the sagging porch.
She feels so very alone,
And begins to softly cry.
All of a sudden she hears a sound,
And looks up from her hands.
A beautiful old man is standing near,
But she's somehow not afraid.
The little girl thinks she knows Him,
But doesn't want to ask.
Finally He says "Hello",
And she knows then who He is.
The man holds out his hand,
And says "Come with me".
She runs into his arms,
And laughs with so much joy.
They walk thru the snow,
But the little girl is not cold.
She trusts this old man,
Beyond all instincts she ever had.
"Are we going to Heaven?" she asks,
And hopes the answer is 'yes'.
But the grand man simply smiles,
And lifts her to His shoulders.
"Not yet my little one," He says,
"It's too soon for you."
"I have many plans for you,
And cannot take you there yet."
The little girl is not sad tho,
Because she knows He speaks true.
"Where am I to go then?" she asks,
And hopes it somewhere warm.
"To people who will love you,
And give you a good home." He says.
"You will grow into a beautiful person,
And never be hungry nor cold again."
"You have prayed every night,
Even tho you're only four.
I have heard your pittiful words,
And shared all your woes."
She smiles so very broadly,
That the sun glints off her teeth.
She's not one bit afraid,
Because she knows He loves her.
"What of my mom and dad?" she asks,
But somehow doesn't want to know.
"They have gone forever," He says,
"And never will they return".
"You have grandparents,
Who will care for you now.
They will love you forever,
And you will never be alone again."
All too soon in early afternoon,
They arrive in a big city.
And then to somewhere in a suburb,
A house stands tall and white.
To the little girl it is amazing as can be;
The house looks to her like a castle.
It is so very very large you see,
With six big posts under a balcany.
The old man puts the little girl down,
And urges her toward the house.
She starts to walk forward,
But turns around instead.
She runs back to the beautiful old man,
And hugs him as he bends down.
"I love you, God". she says,
And He replies, "I know."
He puts her down again ,
And she runs up the huge marble porch.
She turns around once more,
But the old man is gone.
The little girl frowns a little,
But then she begins to smile.
She knows He will always be there,
If ever she needs Him again.
Just then the big green door opens,
And there stands her grandparents.
Right away they know her,
And stretch out their arms.
The little girl runs into their arms,
And they hug her lovingly.
They take her inside their home,
And she looks around in such awe.
Everything is as she's always dreamed,
And so much more.
Her grandparents show her a tall tree,
All decorated and gifts under there.
The little girl looks up at those two people,
And smiles so very brightly.
"Is this all mine?" she asks,
And they say "Yes", "And much much more".
by Jann Newland
(copyright ~ Nov. 2002)
