3-year-old's dream comforts family after death

Dear Lee: My sister-in-law, Cindy, had a grandfather who was 87 years old. Her daughter, Madeline, who just turned 3 years old, always liked playing with her great-grandpa. He'd sit in front of the television and let her pile stuffed animals around him or "dress" him up in funny hats. Not long ago, this great-grandfather's back was bothering him, so he went to the chiropractor. But as the chiropractor started his adjustment, the great-grandfather died! CPR brought him back. He was rushed to the hospital, where they discovered that his back was hurting because his kidneys were failing. He quickly slid into a coma.

My brother and sister-in-law thought little Madeline was too young to understand what was happening, so they told her nothing.

Two days later, when no more could be done, the relatives decided to pull the plug and let great-grandpa go.

Cindy waited with him at the hospital. When seven hours went by, she realized great-grandpa might linger. So she went home to sleep.

At 5:30 a.m., Madeline woke up and wanted to sleep with her mommy. She'd had a bad dream, which she couldn't remember, but she'd had "a nice dream before that."

Madeline said, "I was in outer space, playing astronauts with great-grandpa. Great-grandpa had a toy box with him. I asked what was in the box, and he said 'They're my angel wings, because I'm going to be your guardian angel now.'"

Cindy found out later that great-grandpa had passed away shortly after Madeline had her dream!

This story has shaken Cindy, but my brother is amazed. And great-grandma feels much better, soothed by the words from the littlest family member.

Jeannie

Dear Jeannie: I rejoice that God sent this dream to comfort Madeline's family! God created angels separately from human beings. Many people report having dreams wherein God allows deceased family members or friends, who are now alive in heaven, to guard over those still living. So, perhaps God actually allows this comforting "guardian-ship" to occur -- even though these formerly-human "guardian angels" aren't true angels, like Gabriel or Michael in the Bible.

Dear Lee: Please multiply the following circumstance by hundreds, maybe thousands of similar instances, because we're certain the same thing has happened to other people.

Years ago, my wife and I bought a large piece of furniture as a gift for our church.

However, this furniture needed a little repair-work. So, we hired a young man who was attending our church to do the repair. This job was the young man's first effort, and he wanted the experience.

On the day he hurriedly finished the repair, he moved out of town to take a "helping profession" job far away. He asked that we send him part of his wages every month, which we agreed to do.

The day after he left, we found out that the work wasn't completed. Yet, because he needed our support in order to survive financially, we sent his wages until the fee was satisfied.

We haven't seen or heard from him since. Later, we had to start over with another person to repair the furniture.

Oh, well! Jesus said, "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." (Matthew 7: 12a -- New International Version)Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: Your honest compassion made you believe that, unless you paid this man, who otherwise supposedly wouldn't survive, you weren't keeping your word. But inadvertently you taught him that, even when he slishes through his work, he can manipulate people so they'll pay him, anyway!

We ought to assess our own values, as Jesus advised. YOU wouldn't want your employers to pay you for work you failed to complete, would you? Wouldn't you rather they held you accountable to being honest and diligent in your business transactions?

Write "Dear Lee" at P.O. Box 697, Cascade, Idaho 83611; or email dearlee@ctcweb.net.