When innocent, small children see angelic beings, how can we possibly doubt? My granddaughter, Reese Isabella, was a year and a half old when her beloved Poppa passed away after a brief illness. I recall watching the two of them together a month before his death. My husband, Burke, and Reese appeared to be the only two people in the room—and in the whole world for that matter!
Burke sat in a chair and played the guitar for Reese. He sang Little Red Caboose for her repeatedly at her request. Reese stood directly in front of him with a tiny hand on each knee. When the music stopped, Reese squealed and asked for more, “Sing, Poppa, sing! Play tah, Poppa!” A “tah” was a guitar in Reese’s world.
The music and laughter between them was a beautiful thing. Reese danced, laughed, and captivated the heart of the man she knew and loved as Poppa. When the music was over, he picked Reese up and held her close; then Burke lifted her high above his head while she laughed until she was out of breath! Precious memories!
One month after that musical afternoon, my husband died at Baptist Hospital in Nashville on a Monday evening around midnight. I called our son and daughter and asked them to come to the hospital at once. I did not tell them Burke was dead until they arrived in the room where I waited for them with Burke’s body.
My son’s wife, Rhonda, later told me how she went in to check on Reese when our son, David, left that night. Reese always slept on her belly with her knees drawn underneath her body. That night was different. Rhonda quietly peered into the crib and discovered Reese was asleep on her back with her little head tilted back, chin and lips extended forward. Rhonda said she knew at that moment that Poppa was dead, that he had stopped off to kiss his lovely little granddaughter good-bye.
A few weeks later, David, Rhonda, and Reese were relaxing on their screened-in back deck when Reese began to laugh and point excitedly. Her tiny finger pointed to the top of a row of trees along the back property line. Reese laughed with joyful laughter and innocently exclaimed repeatedly, “Poppa tall! Poppa tall!” She saw what the others could not see.
On more than one occasion, Reese’s parents observed her sitting in the middle of the bed, laughing and talking to an invisible Poppa. Each time they watched in amazement as she jabbered in baby talk and carried on what appeared to be a one-sided conversation to the observer. Children under the age of two don’t know how to lie or deceive. She saw what she saw as an innocent child and responded honestly and openly. She is older now and has no recollection of the incidents; however, we will always remember, with much love and appreciation to God for His remarkable gifts!
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Second Corinthians 9:15