THE TALLEST LADY EVER SEEN

Our six-year-old son, Jonny, had been waiting impatiently for his first bike. Living on a busy street corner delayed his getting one. Plans were already in the works for our family to move to a quieter city and street where it would be safer for him to ride. We didn't know at the time that Jonny was having repeated dreams about a bike accident. He dreamed he was riding with a friend whom he had never met before. It always ended with him flying over the handlebars. After our move, Jonny got his bike. He was a little shaky but did fairly well on quiet streets. One day he and his new friend, Mike, rode their bikes halfway around the block to a cul-de-sac. At the time, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. All of a sudden, I heard Jonny's screams as he ap-proached our front door. The door flew open, and I heard a lady calmly tell him, "It's all right. You're home now. You're going to be all right." I rushed to the living room. Jonny was in shock, his face covered with blood. I eased him to the couch and hurried to the door to thank the lady for bringing him home. I glanced up and down the street, but I couldn't see her anywhere. Jonny sobbed uncontrollably. He shook so hard he couldn't talk. My husband Bob and I hurried him to the hospital emergency room. The nurse immediately wheeled him off for X-rays, while we waited anxiously for Jonny's return. After he was wheeled back, we gazed at our little boy. Once filled with fun and enthusiasm, Jonny looked tiny and helpless under the cool sheet. Bob and I took his hands and prayed for him to be well and calm. Jonny finally started to relax. He explained that while he and Mike were riding, their bicycle wheels tangled. Jonny lost his balance and flew over the handlebars. Jonny paused and a peaceful look came over him. "Mom and Dad, the tallest lady I ever saw came over to me. She was nice and was very strong when she helped me up. She kept talking with me, while she walked me home. Mike was so scared that he followed from behind. Then he ran home to his house." Jonny told us about his dreams. He realized now Mike had been the boy he had dreamed about. We were thankful when we found out Jonny had only a broken nose, but no other serious injuries. Weeks passed and Jonny mended nicely. All he could talk about was the nice, tall lady. If she hadn't been there, we wondered if Jonny might have gone into severe shock. Afterward, Jonny rode his bike to the area of the accident in search of the lady to thank her. He knocked on doors, asked neigh-bours, but couldn't find the lady. Mike and Jonny never talked about the accident. Mike moved to a different area, and the boys didn't see each other for several years. One day their paths crossed again. During their conversation, Jonny (now Jon) mentioned the bike accident and the tall lady he could never thank. Mike looked awestruck. "I thought you were talking to yourself. Jon, there was no lady walking you home!" The boys stood and stared at each other in amazement. Jonny knew the tall lady helped him, and I heard her talking at our front door. We don't know the answers; but we know God watched over our six-year-old son that day! "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them" (Psalm 34:7, New International Version). [From: When I'm In His Presence, Anita C. Donihue, Christian Art Publishers, Vereeniging, 2002].