I FELT HIS HEARTBEAT!

(My daughter, Susan, when she was about 6 years old, and I wondered what it might have been like...)


My daddy and I were right in the front of the crowd. I could tell by the way people were gathering and listening this was a great man speaking, yet His words were so clear to me as a child. I knew His words were important.

And it seemed like He kept looking at me.

There were a lot of us children in the crowd. Could you imagine our thrill when He said, “Let the children come to me”?

Several kids—some of them I knew as playmates—immediately ran to Him, but I couldn’t move. It was like my legs were paralyzed. Oh, how I wanted to go but I just couldn’t do it.

“I know,” I thought, “the next time He looks at me I’ll go.” And right then He did just that—but I still stood there frozen.

Tears came but I brushed them away as I decided what I would do. I would count to ten and at ten I would step out and go to Him. I wouldn’t even think about it. It was already decided.

“One, two three.” My heart was beating faster and my throat was getting dry.

“Four, Five, six.” I was almost dizzy with the thought of being near Him.

“Seven, eight.” I could hardly breathe.

“Nine, ten, go!”

But my legs still wouldn’t move.

“Why can’t I go?” I silently cried.

I looked up to my daddy’s face and his eyes were teary, too. He gently pushed my shoulder and said, “It’s okay, go to Him.”

At that very same instant He looked right at me and kept looking. His eyes were saying, “Come.”

Oh, I ran. I ran as fast as I could to His side. He leaned over and put His arm around me and lifted me up to His lap. So strong and so gentle.

With His other hand He tenderly pulled my head to his chest. I felt his robe—it was coarse cloth like my own. It had the fresh scent of the fields on it.

And His beard had the faint scent of olive oil.

As He spoke I felt the power of His voice in His chest and in my heart.

And then I felt His heartbeat. Quick and urgent.

He looked into my eyes again for a long moment. Then He motioned for us all to go back to our families.

I ran to Daddy. I didn’t care that my tears were gushing.

Daddy pulled me up into his arms and hugged me tight. He was crying, too.

“Oh, Daddy, this is the most important thing that has ever happened to me. I felt His heartbeat. I will obey His words and serve him forever.”

Daddy squeezed me harder and tried to say something but his voice was choked by tears of love and joy.

He just nodded and then managed to whisper, “Me, too.”