For Grandma Lair

For Grandma

The fire crackled in the hearth as the snow fell in flurries outdoors and Madie sat in her easy chair rocking while listening to an old sermon tape. The sermon was on the Fatherhood of God, something that was sometimes difficult for her to understand.

As she listened intently with her Bible open on her lap the back door flew open to little Daniel standing in the cold. He wore a blue stocking cap that had a white ball on top and white tassels hanging from the ear flaps. Daniel took off his coat and shoes by the door and came in to warm up near the fire.

“Just a minute young man; you come give your grandma a kiss!”

“Aw grandma, do I have to?” complained Daniel.

“If you don’t, then I will wrestle you to the ground and kiss you anyway.” replied Madie with a smirk.

“Okay…” said Daniel as he resigned himself to receive a kiss he proclaimed he didn’t want, but deep down enjoyed receiving.

“Thank you Daniel, I love you!”

“I love you too grandma.”

Madie sat and watched Daniel by the fire while the other children continued to romp around out in the snow. They too would be in soon to warm up a little while by the fire before going right back out into the cold again.

Young Danny let out a little, barely audible sigh, yet Madie heard it all the same. He looked sad with his shoulders slouched as he seemed to be gazing into the flickering flames of the fire, deep in child-like thoughts.

“Danny, is something wrong my dear?”

“I’m okay grandma.” replied Daniel without turning to look her way.

“Sweetheart, I know something is wrong. Your body language and that little sigh says it all.”

“What is body language grandma?” said Daniel, this time turning to face her.

Madie sat up, leaned towards Daniel and replied, “It’s the way your body presents itself depending on how you feel. It is a way people communicate without using words. That’s why I knew you were not telling the truth, because although you said one thing, your body and that sigh told me another.”

“Oh, okay…”

“Now that I have your attention; are you going to tell me what is bothering you?” asked Madie.

“I don’t know…” said Daniel with a bigger sigh this time.

Madie got out of her chair and paused the sermon. She then went over by the fire, sat down next to Daniel and also gazed deep into the lively flames. After sitting there a bit with him, she again pressed Daniel for what had him down.

This time Daniel gave in, and with his lower lip starting to quiver he told his grandmother, “Michael and me got in a fight, and he said he doesn’t love me or like me anymore, and then he pushed me to the ground.” A single tear escaped over the lower lid of his right eye as Daniel tried to remain strong.

“Now why would he say that?” inquired Madie.

As his eyes continued to fill with tears Daniel replied, “Well, he was building a snowman while Marie, Nicole and me were chasing each other in the snow. I wasn’t looking where I was going, and I ran into his snowman and ruined it. Now he has to start all over. I didn’t mean to!” Daniel began to silently sob after his confession. He did not like to cry, but he felt so terrible, yet he knew grandma loved him and would not make fun.

Madie sat there holding Daniel close while he sobbed silently in her arms so he may be comforted by her embrace. It was not long before he began to calm down when she said, “Honey, Michael was upset and did not truly mean what he said, but all the same it was not right to react to you the way he did and say what he said. I will have a talk with him later.”

With the issue off his chest, and knowing his grandma would take care of him, Daniel felt much better, but hoped that Michael would not get in too much trouble.

“Thank you grandma, I love you.” he said before getting up to go back outside again.

“I love you too young man!” responded Madie with another kiss on his cheek before clicking the sermon back on and returning to her rocking chair.