Blink

 by Patience

Upon opening the attic door, Andi Carter was enveloped in a cloud of dust. Waving her hand around her head, she stepped into the dimly lit area while listening to the pleasant patter of rain on the roof. 

Sometimes on rainy days, Andi decided to go up to the attic and explore. Today was one of those days, and she had barely entered the attic when she spied a beautiful foggy blue crib nestled beside a large crate. The crib’s sweet little quilt was folded inside, and there was writing on the head board. 

“Edwin James Cameron,” blinking, Andi whispered, “who is he?” Andi decided to go find an answer to the mysterious baby’s crib. Surely a name like that would be a memorable one! Rushing down the stairs, Andi collided with her favorite brother, Justin. Before he had time to speak she grabbed his hand. “Hurry and follow me!” she ordered, half dragging him to the attic. 

 Justin’s hat was knocked from his head when they entered the attic, but he did not bother picking it up when she pointed to the elegant little crib. 

The shadow that passed over his eyes made Andi’s heart skip a beat. “Who is Edwin Cameron?” she asked softly, rain nearly drowning out her voice. 

 “Have a seat,” he whispered, almost like it was something sacred, “it is a sad story.” 

 *** 

 I sat in my new law office. I was thrilled to have finally reached this milestone. “Justin,” a jovial voice called. 

 “Alexander Cameron?” I chuckled, standing as I recognized my old college friend. “What are you doing here?” 

 “I heard about your father...I am so sorry. But, I bring wonderful news. For thirteen months we have been apart. Since then, I have become a father.” Alexander looked very happy, proud even. As he described the lady he had married, and now how he had a sweet little boy, I listened with interest. The lad was no older than two months, but it was clear he was Alexander’s pride and joy. 

After a few more minutes of visiting, I decided to accompany Alexander to the hotel where he was staying. Here, I met the sweetest baby boy ever seen. He gurgled and laughed, bringing a smile to each face. “And where are you off to?” I asked, setting Edwin in the hand carved cradle. 

 “Oregon,” Alexander beamed at his wife. “We have a bright future ahead of us there.” 

 “God be with you.” 

 We parted, and for a year I saw nothing of Alexander. Then, on the day you attended school for the first time, he stopped by the ranch. Compared to his old smiling self, Alexander was not half as happy as he had been a year ago. When I asked him what was wrong, he replied, “Justin…I brought this for you.”

 He held out a flour sack. The weight of the parcel communicated what it contained. 

 “But Edwin is still big enough to fit-.” 

I was cut off. “And he shall remain so until the Resurrection. Justin, God gives us gifts to enjoy for a time, but nothing but Jesus lasts forever. Every child in your life is a gift. You watch as they grow, healthy, happy and strong. You hear their first word. You wonder what could destroy your joy. But what God gives, He can also take away. God decides who will be mother and father to whom, but they are all His children, and if He decides to call them home, who are we to stop Him? He blesses us with life, and family…and children. But if we even dare to blink, a second of seeing that face disappears. Just like when time has passed, and they grow into adults, you feel as if you only blinked, and then they are grown.” 

 *** 

 Andi wiped her eyes as she smoothed a wrinkle in the darling baby quilt. Only this morning Mother had been lamenting how quickly all her children had grown. Now Justin was going to be married. 

 “I have never ceased to remember those words Andi,” Justin’s voice was rasping with the emotion he struggled to fight back. A tear glimmered in the corner of his eye. 

 “But…did Alexander have any more children?” Andi whispered softly. 

 “He has five. All of whom are happy and healthy. Yet he still remembers little Edwin. God sometimes gives us things to help our faith in Him grow. The death of Edwin was very sad and Alexander struggled greatly, but both his and my own faith grew from it. He learned to rejoice even when troubles heaped up like in the book of Job. I learned something else.” 

 Breathlessly, Andi waited for Justin to continue. For a moment, he was silent, running his hand along the smooth wood of the cradle. “Andi, we are all going to die. Life is like blinking once in comparison to the gift that Jesus has given us. He died so that we might forever live with Him in His eternal kingdom. Out of His death sprung life. Every second of our lives counts. We never know when or how we shall be called home, but I for one count every breath, every heart beat as a gift from God Himself.” 

 Mother’s voice carried from down stairs, and it sounded like she was calling Andi. 

Standing, Andi accepted Justin’s handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. Before she left, Andi turned. “Why did he give you the cradle?” Andi asked softly. 

 Justin shrugged. For a moment, he listened to her leave. Then, he flipped the cradle over to read: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the Lord’s house forever.” 

The verse resonated through the short life of Edwin Cameron. After pausing for a moment, Justin went out of the attic, and closed the door, knowing that as he blinked back tears, the time was nearing for him to meet his Savior.