Home

“I don’t want to do it!” My sister whined.

 I rolled my eyes. Why not? It wasn’t so hard to do.

“Please put it up.” My mom was telling her, “Thank you.”

 She grumbled as she looked down at her pajamas and then back to the clothesline.

 For goodness’ sake, it was just one pair of clothing.

 Feeling especially sassy, I snatched the pajamas out of her hand, “I’ll do it.”

 She gave me a wide-eyed look, but then shrugged and let me be.

 I pursed my lips, unsure of where to hang them. I looked at my surroundings. We were on the third floor of my grandma’s house. The open airy space was connected to the laundry room she had and the stairs that led down to the second floor.

 I couldn’t see into the neighborhood; the tall bricks of stone created a barrier.

 I was also short… which didn’t help matters.

 I looked at the three yellow strings of clothesline that hung across. Standing on my toes, I reached to toss my sister’s Snoopy pajamas over them.

 My belly stretched and hurt as my arms attempted to get it over, but it only fell back down towards my face.

 I frowned, looking around.

 Was there a stool somewhere?

“Over there.” The voice of my six-year-old brother suggested.

 I looked at where he was pointing. There was a huge skylight that would give me just the right height to reach the clothesline.

 I was quick to step on to the skylight, all for the sake of my sister’s pajamas.

 As I stepped onto it, I lifted my arms and turned to face the clothesline.

 And that’s when I heard three things at once.

 The sound of the skylight crack beneath me.

 My mother’s scream.

 And the voice in my head say, I’m falling.

PART 2

 As I fell, everything became a blur.

 I then saw utter complete darkness. I put both hands in front of me, but I couldn’t see them.

 The first thought that came to mind was the remembrance of my third-grade teacher talking about the thickest layer of the earth that was the magma.

 I must be in that layer of the earth, my eight-year-old mind thought.

 And then there was a huge white light. It was blinding, but it did not hurt my eyes. It wasn’t warm either.

 I felt myself frown in confusion.

 I must still be falling, my mind reasoned. I was probably just going through the living room where there were windows everywhere. I would soon arrive on the first floor.

My vision cleared and focused.

 I could see everything.

 I could see color.

 Beautiful bright blinding colors that I had no idea existed.

 Beautiful.

 Words did not captivate the beauty before me

 Everything about my senses was heightened and cleared.

 My breath filled with a cool sweet air that lingered around me.

 I looked down at my feet. They were bare.

 I giggled as I felt the soft blades of grass tickling my feet.

 Joy. Overwhelming joy filled each and every one of my senses. It was the purest, most freeing sensation ever.

 I was in a garden full of thick trees that hung with bright leaves. The soft whispers of a river nearby beckoned me forward. Animals big and small played in paradise. The sweet song of the birds filled the air. Their notes seemed to be praising someone or something. A gentle breeze wrapped around me, caressing the white dress I wore. It hummed, blowing my hair away from my face. The scent of grass mingled with something sweet; I walked forward wondering where this marvelous place was.

 The laughter of children nearby and voices of people singing nearby had me running into that direction.

 As I entered the tall trees, a thought filled my head: Look ahead

 I looked up to see a blinding figure, dressed in white.

 My whole being was drawn to Him. He was different from those children I saw playing in the clearing near him. 

 As if I had called to Him, He met my gaze.

 His smile stretched into a broad grin, and He lifted his hand.

 Come, Little One.

 My eyes widened, joy permeating every inch of my body. I took ahold of my white dress and ran.

“Yeshua!” I squealed in excitement and delight.

 His laughter, rich and warm, filled the air. The other children seemed to be attuned to him. They circled around him.

 I ran but was not out of breath.

 He opened his arms, and I ran into him. He picked me up in a warm embrace, spinning me around.

Home. I am home.

“Welcome Home.” He squeezed me before setting me down on my feet.

“It’s You, It’s really You!”

 His loving gaze met mine, “Yes, it is I.”

“Welcome!” I heard the children tell me; their smiles radiated their joy.

“Come, we must speak.” He extended His hand to me, and I took it. His large hand embraced my own small one. I could feel the scar of His wound against my hand, and it reminded me of the immense love He had for me.

 The other children played nearby as He took a seat on a large rock. I sat next to Him; my gaze never once left His.

“I have something I would like to suggest to you.” His loving smile immediately made my mind think yes, anything!

He chuckled, “Before you agree, let me tell you what it is.”

 TO BE CONTINUED…