Is It Morning Yet?

January 12th, 2025

Asher stirred. He had been sleeping restlessly. We had gone to bed early since the following day was school for him. Asher still had his head resting on my bicep. My little grandson uses my left arm as a pillow when he first goes to sleep. He had been lying on it for hours when he started moving around and woke me from a dream.

He rolled closer to me. Then he said,

“I love you so much.”

I whispered, “I love you too.”

He asked me, “Is it morning yet?”

I looked up at clock. The illuminated numbers said, “11:56.”

I replied, “No.”

Then he told me, “You got to tell me when it’s morning.”

“Okay,”

Asher relaxed next to me and dozed off. I listened to his soft and slow breathing. I couldn’t fall back asleep. I gazed up at the skylight. It was clear and cold outside. I could see the bright light of Jupiter and two stars from the constellation of Gemini shining through the window. It was glorious, but so distant.

My mind was churning with thoughts of current events: war, violence in our nation’s streets, and the frightening and seemingly insane comments from our government officials. Asher was calm and in a deep sleep. He was snuggling next to me for protection from a threatening world. How did he know it was threatening? Maybe he tapped into my anxiety. Asher is very good at sensing the emotional wellbeing of others. Apparently, my physical presence was enough to comfort him.

How do I protect Asher in a world gone mad? How does anyone do that? How do I give a five-year-old shelter? How do I keep him safe? I don’t know. I can only try.

It is a scary world, but oh so beautiful. It’s always been this way. I need to show Asher how to revere and enjoy the awesome splendor of it all. I need to teach him how to be courageous and fight the darkness that is also there.

Morning is almost here. I need to tell Asher that.