179. A Little Hum and a Quiet Prayer
Today there has been a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. Children and adults have been killed. And as normal things go on in my life, I cannot help but think how un-normal things are in all of their lives.
As I sit at the computer I look for something to post on this day and I find a story of 17 years ago. I was spending the night at my daughter’s house and after midnight as I was reading in bed, her husband Stephen came and said “Come quickly.” I hurried into the bedroom and found Debbie doubled over in pain and we quickly decided that Stephen needed to take her to the hospital.
Just as they were leaving, Elizabeth, eight months old, woke up and I fixed her a bottle. Debbie and Stephen went on and I sat in Elizabeth’s room, lit only with a night light and rocked her and gave her the bottle. She finished eating and we kept rocking. I was worried about Deb, because I had no idea what was the matter. So as this baby and I rocked, I made up a little prayer song and started to softly sing: “God be with them on this night—oh yes; God be with them on this night—oh yes; God be with them, please be with them; God be with them on this night—oh yes.” Elizabeth’s little eyes watched me as I sang and then in a minute I heard a little hum coming from her.
I’m still singing this same prayer song quietly on this night in 2012 as I think of those in Connecticut. Will you hum with me?
