There is nothing like setting in an old porch swing to bring back memories!

When I was a child, we had a porch swing on our breezeway. It was a favorite place to set late in the evenings with my Daddy. That was when he caught up on my activities of the day.

"So, what have you done today, Honey?" my daddy would ask.

"Oh, well, I played with Blondie a while. I dressed her up in my doll's dress and pushed her in the doll buggy. Then, Mother put some Kool-aid in a little jar with a lid and she fixed me a sandwich and she let me eat it outside. You know, down there under that white bush", I said, pointing to the spirea bush that graced our south lawn. "Then, she said I had to take a nap. You know I don't like naps AT ALL. But, she said I had to at least lay down and if I couldn't sleep I could just rest. So, I took my doll and my books and climbed up on the bed. Blondie came and jumped up by me. She just purred and purred and then went to sleep but I didn't. It was just too hot. Mother came and peeked in a couple of times and just grinned so I guess it was okay if I didn't go to sleep," I said, yawning.

Then, as I laid my head over on my Daddy's big, broad shoulder, he would tell me about the fish he saw jumping out of the water on Kings River. Sometimes, he shared about the squirrels that were jumping from limb to limb in some big ole' trees. And, as he talked, he would gently glide the swing back and forth..... back and forth. The crickets would be chirping as darkness crept in. Then the lightening bugs would come out flickering all about, lighting little areas here and there. And, still daddy would gently glide that old, squeaky swing back and forth..... back and forth.

I never remembered being moved but in the morning, I would wake up just where my daddy had gently laid me; right in my own little bed. I would open my eyes and the sun would be streaming in and I would smell breakfast cooking. Yawning, I'd get out of bed, stretch and wonder what new things awaited me this day.

I like to think that's what it will be like for us when we close our eyes for the last time and awaken to the brightness of our Savior's face as He guides us to our Heavenly Home.

Dottie Rambo wrote this song that has been a favorite of mine.

Sheltered in The Arms of God

I feel the touch of hands so kind and gentle,
They're leading me in paths that I must trod;
I have no fear when Jesus walks beside me,
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God.

So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise,
They won't worry me for I'm sheltered safe within the arms of God;
He walks with me and naught of Earth can harm me,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.

Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven's portals,
Come home my child, it's the last mile you must trod;
I'll fall asleep and wake in God's new Heaven,
Sheltered safe within the arms of God.