By Lori Peckham
“Does Vacation Bible School start today?” Emma asked her mother.
Emma had asked that question almost every day since summer began. She loved Vacation Bible School (VBS) at her church. She looked forward to it all year. She got excited listening to stories from the Bible, making crafts, playing games with the other kids, and singing songs about Jesus.
Her mother smiled at her. “Yes, honey. It begins this afternoon.”
Emma twirled with joy.
A few hours later Emma’s mother drove her to the church and registered her. Emma ran to greet her friends. She also met some new kids from the neighborhood. Together they sang their favorite songs and learned some new ones too.
Then they listened to a Bible story. It was told by Emma’s Sabbath School teacher, who dressed in a robe like people wore in Bible times. She spoke like she was the sick woman who came to Jesus for healing. She made the story very dramatic, and Emma’s eyes opened wide as she listened.
The woman rushed across the front of the room, holding out her hand as she described trying to touch Jesus. Emma wanted to get up and help her reach Him. Then suddenly the woman was healed! By touching the hem of Jesus’ robe in faith, she received a miracle. Emma loved that story.
Afterward, the leaders took the children outside for an exercise break. Some of Emma’s friends played kickball. Others went to the playground.
Emma decided that this year she would try the monkey bars. Maybe she was tall enough to reach them now. She stretched her arms way above her head and stood on her tippy toes, but she still couldn’t touch the metal bars.
She watched another girl step on a few stairs at one end. That helped her grab the first bar. She swung her arms from one bar to the next to reach the other side.
Emma could do that! By climbing the stairs, she was able to grasp the first bar with both hands. Now all she had to do was step off the stairs and swing from one bar to the next.
What she didn’t expect was how much strength it took to support her whole body with just her arms. She was only halfway across the monkey bars when her right hand didn’t make it to the next bar. Now she was dangling over the pavement by just her left hand. Her fingers slipped one by one. And then Emma fell.
She hit the ground with her right elbow. She heard a crack and felt little pins going through her arm.
“Ouch!” she cried. “I’m hurt!”
Mrs. Tatum, one of the teachers, rushed over and helped Emma up. But something was wrong with Emma’s arm. She couldn’t bend it, and it hurt so much.
“Let’s go to the church office,” Mrs. Tatum said. “I’ll call your parents.”
Tears fell from Emma’s eyes as she waited for her parents to arrive. They took her to the hospital, and Emma got X-rays that showed her elbow was broken. In fact, a piece had chipped off, and the doctor said she needed surgery to pin it back together.
Emma had to stay overnight in the hospital because her surgery was very early the next morning.
Her parents sat by her hospital bed as she cried. “I’m so scared,” she said.
“God will be with you,” her father assured her.
“I broke the hand I need to write and make crafts.” Emma sniffled. “What if I can never use it again?”
Mother stroked Emma’s hair. “God made you, and He can help you heal.”
“But not everybody gets better,” Emma whispered. “What about Jaxson? He’s in a wheelchair.”
“You’re right. Not everyone gets healed on this earth,” Mother said. “But in heaven Jaxson and everyone else will be restored to full health.”
“Would you like me to pray?” Father asked. “I think we should talk to God about your fears and put your situation in His loving hands.”
“Yes,” Emma said, closing her eyes.
Emma’s father prayed for her bone to heal. He prayed that the doctor would be successful with the surgery. He thanked God for the training of the surgeon and the nurses who were caring for her. He also thanked God for creating our bodies to heal from breaks, cuts, and sickness.
“Do you think you can get some sleep now?” Mother asked.
“I’ll try,” Emma said.
“Remember that God is here with you. Talk to Him anytime,” Father reminded her.
“We’ll be back in the morning to pray with you before you go into surgery,” Mother added, kissing Emma’s forehead.
When Emma came out of surgery the next day, the doctor told her that everything went well. “Your arm will be in a cast for six weeks,” he said. “But your bone will heal well. Someday you won’t even remember which arm you broke.” He smiled.
Emma couldn’t go swimming or to the playground for the rest of the summer, but her arm did heal. Except for a narrow little scar along her elbow, she hardly remembers the surgery.
What she does remember is how God answered her prayers for comfort and healing.
