By Lori Peckham
Marco stopped eating his carrots and stared at Mom and Dad. Something was wrong. They were so quiet.
During supper Mom and Dad usually asked him what he’d learned in school that day. And they always wanted to know how he’d blessed others. They loved to talk about what they’d done that day to encourage or help someone.
But tonight Mom and Dad weren’t talking. They weren’t eating much either. Mom was just pushing food around her plate. In the blessing, Dad had asked God to heal Grandma.
That must be it—Grandma must be sick.
Marco cleared his throat. “Is something wrong with Grandma?” he asked.
Dad let out a long breath, and Mom’s chin jiggled like she was about to cry.
“Grandma is very sick,” Dad said. “She has cancer.”
“What’s that?” Marco asked.
“It’s a disease where broken cells grow too fast,” Dad explained. “Sometimes they form lumps called tumors.”
“Ew.” Marco wrinkled his nose. “I don’t want lumps.”
“Don’t worry,” Dad said. “You can’t catch cancer like you can catch a cold. The doctors are going to operate and take out Grandma’s tumor.”
“Grandma is going to need lots of encouragement from us,” Mom said. “This was hard news for her to hear.”
“Can I call her after supper?” Marco asked.
Mom smiled. “I think she would like that.”
***
After her surgery, Grandma had to stay in the hospital a few days. Marco made a card for her. He drew a lion on it, mostly because that’s the only animal he could draw pretty well. He asked his parents to help him find a good Bible verse to put in the card. He liked their idea and chose different colored markers to write Psalm 46:1: “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble” (ICB). Mom and Dad pointed out that the verse also fit the lion picture, since Jesus is called the Lion of Judah (see Revelation 5:5).
When Marco visited Grandma in the hospital, he brought her the card and a plant. She smiled and reached for his hand, and he stood by her bed and squeezed her fingers. She didn’t squeeze back very strongly. She looked very tired, as though she needed a nap. But she never let go of his hand the whole time he was there, so he knew she was glad he came.
Before Marco and his parents left, they gathered around Grandma, and Dad prayed.
Then Marco had an idea. “Do you want me to sing for you, Grandma?” he asked.
Grandma nodded. “Yes, dear, please do.”
“What song would you like?” Marco asked.
“You choose,” Grandma said.
So Marco sang “Jesus Loves Me,” but he changed the words to say, “Jesus loves you, this I know. . .”
Grandma closed her eyes as Marco sang, and her mouth formed a small smile.
***
The next time Marco saw Grandma, she was back home. But she didn’t have a lot of energy, so Marco found many ways to help her. He watered her plants in the windowsill. He pulled weeds in her flowerbeds. He brought her juice. He even practiced his violin for her so she could hear the music.
Soon summer came, and Marco didn’t have to go to school. Then he spent even more time with Grandma. Mom and Dad told him that Grandma had to have treatments called chemotherapy.
“The doctors use a strong medicine to kill the bad cells,” Dad explained. “But the medicine can also kill the good cells. Grandma might feel sick after the treatments.”
Grandma did feel very sick. When Marco brought her banana muffins, she said she couldn’t eat. Soon her cheeks got hollow, and her dresses hung loose on her. Sometimes Marco heard her throw up in the bathroom. One day he swept up a big clump of hair that had fallen off her head.Grandma kept losing hair.
Marco prayed for Grandma every day.
One night before bed, Marco built the courage to ask his parents, “Is Grandma going to die?”
“I don’t know,” Dad said, rubbing Marco’s back. “But if this earth lasts long enough, we will all die. That’s because of sin.”
“Death isn’t the end, though,” Mom added, sitting on the edge of Marco’s bed. “Grandma loves Jesus, and He made a way for all of us to be with Him in heaven.”
Marco tilted his head. “Was that why Jesus had to die on the cross?”
Mom nodded. “Yes. The Bible tells us that the result of sin is death, but God gives us the gift of eternal life through Jesus. That’s in Romans 6:23. I love that verse.”
“But I don’t want Grandma to die.” Marco’s eyes filled with tears.
“Of course not,” Dad said. “But Jesus told us that death is like sleep. Whenever she dies, she will just rest until Jesus comes.”
Mom hugged Marco. “Jesus can’t wait to wake up His beloved followers! He has an eternity of joy ahead for all of us.”
Marco folded his hands. “Let’s pray for Grandma. And tomorrow I want to tell her about the fun we’ll have together in heaven.”
