Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. “Mommy, what does ‘soul to keep’ mean?” asked Ariyana.
I opened my eyes and looked at her. She is so curious. Just two weeks ago when I was helping her tie her sneakers she asked me, “Mommy, how did Baba die?” I told her that he had cancer and died and went to heaven. She said, “No, I mean, how did he die?” Taking a deep breath and smiling at her I told her about that morning. I told her how we were there in our home and that when Baba was getting ready, she and Afshin came in and kissed him goodbye. I told her that he knew she loved him. Then she went downstairs with Tia Desy and Tia Alma and played in the pool. “No, how did he die?” She asked again persistently. Looking into those blue eyes of hers; those eyes shaped just like Hamid’s, I told her that Baba's heart stopped. I had my hand on Baba’s chest feeling it go up and down. And then he took his last breath like this, and I took a breath. His heart stopped and God took his spirit up to heaven. She hopped off of the wooden chest and we hugged each other tightly, and then she said, “Ok” and ran off to play. Oh the curious faith of children.
The other morning we were snuggling and talking. She told me that my eye looked a little red and that “When you go to heaven you should talk to God about that.” I laughed and told her I would but I thought God wanted me to stay and take care of her and Afshin for a while. She looked at me so matter of factly and said, “Well, when God calls you have to go right then.” She is wise beyond her years. Why do we sometimes resist that? "Yes, my dear, when God calls us we go but I will always be in your heart no matter where I am."
And so the three of us were lying there in bed and she asked me about our souls. That was a hard one. I told her and Afshin about our souls and how they go up to be with God. She sat up quickly and said, “Yeah, I know, I know, your body stays here but your soul goes up to God so that He knows your name? Right? Yes, that way He knows your name."
Tonight I am thankful for my amazing children and for their curious faith. I know Hamid would be so proud of them. May God Bless them.
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