DREAMER

Matthew 13 - 17

"for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see,

and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.

The child sat quietly hardly noticed by the family gathering, their noisy chattering interrupted by bursts of laughter accompanied the clink of tea cups.    Welcome home boys - war over.   Her eyes searched through the smoke filled breakfast room for a familiar face then she was gone to a different place. 

"Look" said her mother "she does that a lot, heaven only knows what goes on in that head of hers" 

"Leave her alone" instructed the grandmother and she took the small hand in hers and gently lifted Ruth on to her knee.   Then she was back, although Anna did notice that sometimes she appeared to chat with an invisible companion.

The years passed and Ruth remained a dreamer blessed with a brief glimpse of a place far beyond her earthly home.   Her imagination was boundless, she never said never, watching and waiting for the unbelievable and perhaps one day a reunion with her invisible childhood friend.

"Now my darlings" she encouraged the circle of small faces "one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  No more death, sorrow, sickness and pain and God will wipe away every tear.  The Lord will be in charge.  There will be no killing machines and man will turn his hand to the plough.   Our Lord will rule with a rod of iron and His children will know harmony and peace.   Exciting times ahead hey Sam."  

Sam frowned "but grandma what about the bad people, those who kill and do terrible things.    "There's hope for us all Sam" his grandmother replied "God knows genuine true repentance from pretence.  He knows our human weaknesses and how man is corrupted by evil.   But if they are not truly sorry, well just may be whatever they have done to others will be done to them over and over again.  But everyone will see Him and know what they have lost.   Today is Easter Sunday.   God's precious son is risen, the grave could not hold him" she said joyfully.

"Where is he now" asked Ben.   "Look up Ben" said his grandmother.   "Just may be he is behind all those stars you can see in the night sky, and when His Father says go - He will come again."

"I would like to go to the stars" said Ben very seriously "Well" said his grandmother "if you study hard you just might.  Many years ago I knew a young man who wanted to do that"   "And what happened to him" Ben enquired anxiously.    "He was born too soon" his grandmother replied wistfully "but may be you will live his dream, who knows".

"When he comes back will they crucify him again" asked Sam.   His grandmother smiled  "Oh no" she murmured "next time He will come in glory and rule over the whole earth."  

Their great grandmother rose stiffly from her rocking chair.   "Where are those Easter eggs children are you ready to go hunting."

"Will they have chocolate in heaven Grandma" enquired an anxious Wendy.   Their grandmother laughed.  "Well you will just have to wait and see"   Perhaps young Wendy would turn out to be a space hopping botanist clutching her cocoa plant not wanting a new earth that didn't include her precious chocolate.

The children ran into the sunshine hunting among the flowers and bushes for hidden eggs.   Their laughter mingled with bird song, and for a few precious moments there was peace on earth in Ruth's garden.