“Children know the grace of God better than most of us. They see the world the way the morning brings it back to them. New and born and fresh and wonderful.”
— Archibald MacLeish, American poet (1892-1982)
Every now and then you find a treasure, something so wonderful and precious you think your heart might explode. There in the pile of library book donations was a small book, maybe 5-by-7-inches. The title, “Worries-Wonders-Why.” The copyright, 1993.
The book was 25 years old and looked new. Flipping through the pages, it said “Published by Rusty McIver for Palmer Home for Children.” A Google search revealed Rusty McIver passed away in 2015 but not before leaving her legacy of love for the children. Her foreword read:
“We were preparing for a typical weeknight dinner at Palmer Home. Seventy-five chattering children were pushing chairs aside to grab a place in line for Miss Bertie’s evening meal. Suddenly, however, the clamor was silenced by a prayer request. In itself, such a request was not unusual, since Palmer Home children often include thanks for many things during the blessing … but on this particular night, an eight-year-old girl was asking that everyone pray for four young men they had never met. 74 heads were bowed and 74 pairs of hands were clasped as the young lady led them in a simple heartfelt prayer.”
Mrs. McIver continues, “As you read the words of the children who contributed to this book, I hope that your heart will be touched by their worries, wonders and whys. I also hope that you will share the vision we have for them at Palmer Home.”
The child contributors were ages four to eleven; their touching comments are directed to God:
“I will be good and not say a single word, so yu will make me a Rescue 911 Fireman.”
“Please help Beulah not to find my snake. She’s skared of it. Thank you.”
“Now I lay me down to sleep I pray dear Lord the soldiers keep if I should die before I wake, I pray dear Lord a soldiers cake.”
“Where is your stuff that you got from the smart men when you were born?”
“Do we have moms an dads because they have to watch us. I thought you could see everything.”
“For god so loved the world that he gave his only forgotten son and that who ever should parish wold have ever lasting life a men.”
“Hacome you made bracble stuf. Why Didn’t you just make just all plastet.”
“I want to know why Bobby is so mene. I wonder why Bobby acts ugle and rood.”
“Why Dus the moon have holes in it?”
“Why do people have to fus all the time?”
“Sometimes I worry about my self. Mabe Il will be ok. Will you please help be to not be skaird.”
“If you were first how did you get here? I think I just don’t understand, but I bet you do. Do you? … Would you send somebody to tell me. I believe in you.”
“Please find everyone a house or some kind of shelter. I’m afraid they will get cold at night … Thank you for my home.”
From me to you, may God bless us everyone and may all have a Merry Christmas.
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