A Story for Camdyn and Charlie

When I was Young My Mother Sang Me to Sleep
Jackie David Johns
(Papa)

For
Camdyn and Charlie


Every night just as the sun went down we took our bath. I was three and Shirley was four. We played together in the water as momma scrubbed us clean.

After our bath she took us to the front porch and we sat on the swing. Shirley was on my mother’s right side and I was on her left side.

“Look for the first star you see tonight,” my mother would say.

Gently we moved back and forth listening to the squeak of the chains and listening to our mother tell stories of her childhood.

“Are you looking for the first star?” she would ask as we sunk our heads into her lap and she began to hum.

Then with excitement she would squeal, “I see it, I see it. Do you see the star?”

“Where? Where? Where?” We asked.

“I see it. I see it. I see it.” One of us would shout.

Where? Where? Where? The other asked.

“Oh, there! I see it, too.”

Star Light
Star Bright
First Star I See Tonight
I Wish I May
I Wish I Might
I Have A Wish
I Wish Tonight

“Did you make your wish?” Momma asked. “Don’t tell anyone or it won’t come true.”

Then she began to sing.

Jesus loves me! this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
they are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

***
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

She would shift in and out of words, humming a while and singing a while, slowly, getting softer until we were asleep.

Sometimes, I would wake up ever so slightly when I felt my father lifting me up into his arms to carry me to my bed.

I felt good. I felt safe. My mother loved me. My father loved me. God loved me. And the world was a magical place.