Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: SING (08/16/18)
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TITLE: A Song for Ellie | Previous Challenge Entry
By Francie Snell
08/23/18 -
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“How about we sing a song, Ellie?”
Her light blue eyes opened wide. “Ok, Gamma.”
I searched my mind for anything I could remember. Aha! I know.
“Hey Ellie, how ‘bout itsy bitsy spider?”
She wiggled in her car seat and nodded excitedly. Then bobbing her head from side to side, she babbled the words as we sang.
The Itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
We sung it once, twice … in the fourth round I could tell she was beginning to lose interest.
I mused over the lyrics and the dogged determination of the imaginary spider, a fine example of perseverance. But as I looked at my granddaughter, my heart ached as I thought of my son. If only he had that same kind of determination to be a father…to be her dad.
“Hey Ellie, what other songs can we sing?”
She smiled an innocent smile and stared out the window without an answer.
I had to sing something, anything to drown out the lonely drone of the engine. Then a tune with words so pure and simple came to mind, custom made just for her.
“Hey Ellie, how ‘bout this?”
I love Ellie, yes I do.
I love Ellie, she was two.
I love Ellie, now she’s three.
I love Ellie, and she- loves- me!
Her eyes lit up with a glorious smile that this grandma will cherish in her thoughts forever.
“Sing again Gramma!”
So I sang again, slowly fumbling through the words, trying to remember what I had just sung.
“Again, Gramma, again,“ she cheered.
“OK,” I said, surprised at her request for an encore. They weren’t the cleverest of lyrics, but the best I could offer at the moment. This time I sang more deliberately the sweetest, most comforting tones I could muster. I sang it over and over as she rocked her head from side to side.
I relished in the precious moments knowing they would quickly pass and be gone in a breath, soon a memory. No time to waste, no time to squander. Will her mom and dad ever wake up? I wondered. God please open their eyes and show them what precious gift You have given them.
I focused on the road ahead. “We’re almost there,” I said in a singy song way. “You get to see Papa! ”
She gasped with excitement.
Driving a few more miles, I pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant, the meeting place halfway in between the towns in which we live. After three days of them being apart, she squealed and ran and jumped in his arms and gave him a hug so hard it made me envious.
Her grandfather held her in his arms. He’d texted me numerous times asking how she was. She’s lived with him since she was a small infant.
“Did you sing the shark song with her yet? he asked.
“No, not yet.” Another song I’ll have to learn... next time.
As I said goodbye to Ellie, I kissed her pudgy cheek and then waved at her as they drove away. I looked ahead and planned the next time I’d get to see her. And as I drove out of the parking lot, another song came to mind.
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
I could no longer see her in the rearview mirror, but she stuck vividly in my mind, eagerly waiting for a new song. The most glorious message I can impart, I’ll teach her its words with feeling. Then we’ll sing it again and again until she knows the words by heart.
Jesus loves me….
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