Her childhood now a distant memory, Miss Pearl fell asleep that night, recalling her mother’s gentle voice as she sung her altered lullaby to Hush Little Baby, Don’t You Cry:
Shhh…little one now don’t you despair
Father’s gonna give you a home He’s prepared.
Quiet your fears with His Mighty Love
All’s in control from His Throne far above
Let Him wipe those tears from your cheek
For Father’s love is strong and never weak
And when life’s burdens you just cannot face
Father’s gonna wrap you inside his embrace
So when you feel your life’s in a swirl
Know you’ll always be His precious little girl!
Feeling foolish did not change Miss Pearl’s longing desire, to bask once more in the arms of her affectionate mother while she rocked her to sleep, reassuring her that everything in her upside down world would be all right.
Oh, mother, if only you could be here to fill this foreboding cavern of loneliness. I am frail and old now and my body is cumbersome. I can no longer witness to others as my speech is now slurred. The oil in my lamp is dissipating and my light is dimming. My inability to witness to those who do not know our Lord, grieves me intensely.
The deep furrows now etched upon Miss Pearl’s face were a constant reminder of her soulful weariness. Feeling imprisoned to a powerful force of uncontrolled sadness, she queried God, “Where are you really Lord, and why do you allow such pain and sorrow to continue? Not just for me but for everyone who suffers from the afflictions of this cold and diseased world.
I know Lord, of your desire that none should perish, but I must confess my bewilderment of allowing the innocent to suffer so. Forgive me my complaint Father, but in my confessions, I also feel abandoned by you in my deepest times of sorrow, because I am unable to physically see you, feel you, or even hear you, as I once did with my mother when she would comfort me.”
Miss Pearl now felt herself bathed in an indescribable luminescence of warmth as she felt the reality of her Heavenly Father, cradling her in His arms, that her mother had reassured her of, so long ago.
“My child, I am here with you now and have washed away every tear you have shed. I have healed your wounded heart and it will ache no more. You have been a good and faithful servant.”
When the staff at Golden Years Care Center discovered that Miss Pearl had gone home to supp with the King, their hearts rejoiced and were glad.
Yes, they would deeply miss this devoted sister in the Lord, but only for a time.
As fellow heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, they anticipated their reunion, in God’s great timing.
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Wow! This was very moving. The only thing I could suggest would be in the song, maybe shortening some of the lines so they rhyme easier for flow, but other than that, this was very well done!
