Richard Radtke

Faith and the Five year-old



Posted: Saturday, May 08, 2010

by Richard Radtke
http://www.cottagebythelane.com

I have always had trouble with faith, sometimes it seems I, like so many others only call on it when it is needed. Then there are some people that seem to always have the faith they need to weather them through any storm, but yet quite often to some of us, perhaps to many of us, it is something that the only time we give faith any thought is when we are in need. It becomes like a little used knick-knack that is placed high up on a closet shelf and forgotten until its needed or missed.

The dictionary defines faith as a belief without proof, which is what some people would define a religion as. Others would cite the Bible as all the proof needed, which is somewhat opposite of the dictionaries definition of faith. I can't say with any authority what faith is, but I can say what I believe it to be. I believe it is something that cannot be taught, it just is... It springs into being and blooms in the heart, like the first rose of summer bursting forth in glorious bloom and only grows more beautiful with the passing of each and every day. I suppose that is what this short story is about, it is about faith and a five year-old, and his certainty that; "Angels Never Lie"

Terry was a small child, five-years-old and like all five-year-olds full of energy, filled from that well of energy that all children tap. On hot summer days you would find Terry playing in the backyard under the bright sun, his imagination conjuring up wonderful things, castles, giants, dragons and kings. Terry also knew of other things, he knew that angels flew and they were his friends. He talked to them, as a friend talking to a friend. His parents smiled, shook their heads, for they understood what a child's imagination could do. His older brother Jim, a proud, all-knowing ten-year-old knew too and understood.

There came a time though that the energy, once boundless in its flow, seemed to leave and Terry the five-year-old slowed. Like a watch slowly winding down, the smooth sweep of the second hand changed to a ragged rhythm of stop and go, Terry paused in his play and sat.

The parents became worried now, and with Terry in tow, to the doctor went. After a seemingly endless series of tests, to the parents, the doctor said, "Leukemia" What a dreaded word, tears flowed, but yet a bit of hope was held out in the in the light. Jim's bone marrow matched the bone marrow of his brother, and a transplant was planned.

The day of the operation was here, Jim knew that what he was doing was only thing to do, but he was scared and he knew then that he was just a child too. The tears held inside, behind the ten-year-old face, slowly began to run down his face. Terry laying in the bed next to Jim's, saw this and asked in his five-year-old voice, "Jimmy whats wrong? why are there tears on your face?"

Jim, in a whispering voice answered, "I'm scared,... Terry"

"Why Jimmy?, see, the angels are here around our beds and they say that everything will be all right."

A tiny five-year-old hand searched for, then grasped ten-year-olds hand through the rails of the beds.

"And Jimmy," this last said through a sleepy little voice as the anesthetic took hold, "Remember Jimmy, Angels never lie..."

The operation only took several hours, although afterwards the parents would swear the clock seemed to stop, and forever was then. Finally the doctor appeared, "The boys had done fine, now it would be just a matter of more time." The silent, cold clocks, once more began to move the second sweeping, a steady pace. Relief written across each parents face. In time, on Terry's chart these words appeared, "Prognosis, good. Released to his parents care."

Move forward now two years in time, and there in the yard, on a hot summer day Terry the seven-year-old plays, under the bright, kindly sun. His imagination conjuring up wonderful things, castles, giants, dragons and kings. But, Terry also knows of other things, he knows that angels fly and they are forever his friends. He still talks to them, as a friend talking friends. His parents smile, and they shake their heads, for they understand what that child sees as he plays. His older brother Jim, a proud, twelve-year-old, now knows and really understands too, because Angels you see, never lie... You just need faith, and perhaps the help of a five-year-old to show you the way...

Richard R. Radtke lives in Northwest Iowa. Over the years he has been a marine, an editor of a Daily newspaper, a contractor, a purchasing agent. He has worked in Emergency Medical Services for a number of years as an EMT-B and will soon be a paramedic. He has two grown sons, one of whom is married and they have a 6 month old daughter. Richard has a lovely wife. Together he and his wife own and publish four hometown newspapers, that are published weekly. The company is now expanding its job printing business into full color print on demand services for books and booklets.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Kim Condemarin
 2 years 15 days ago.
23 fans.
Richard,
 
What a touching, wonderfully inspiring story. Children are closer to heaven, I really believe that, and they have unshakable faith. Thank you so much for writing this beautiful piece.
» left by Richard Radtke 2 years 15 days ago.
19 fans. Follow Richard Radtke on twitter!
Thank you for taking the time to read it and making a wonderful comment. I do appreciate your perspective.
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