Cute Boy First Kiss (Lisa)

Dear Claire,

I had a dream a few months back and I came to understand it better just recently. It was a holy moment for me.

In the dream, I was at your great grandma B’s house. She went to heaven years ago but the two of you shared the same birthday, 80 years apart. Mary Francis Donohue lived to be 94 years old and she was a pistol just like you!

In the dream, we visit Great Grandma in her house for a party. Her home I knew so well but most faces I did not recognize. Still, it felt like a typical crowded family gathering. Everybody is laughing, loving, breathing all at once and I am just watching it play out.

Smiling, I scan the room and spy you Claire, standing on your own, awestruck, looking up at a handsome young man. You only come up to his waist and he leans down and picks you up with ease. He bear-hugs you to his chest holding you at eye level and smiles. He starts to sing softly in your ear… “Wise men say, only fools rush in but I can’t help falling in love with you…” You respond with that hard-to-get-looking-away-but-I-am-listening-please-don’t-stop, thing that you do, turning three shades of red! I say to your sister Mollie, Look at Claire! I have never seen her blush like that! You turn back, looking your handsome friend in the eye and slowly turn your gaze to his lips. Leaning in, you offer up your own sweet lips as a first kiss. I am making my way to you through the happy unfamiliar crowds and teasingly shout out, “Claire! You just got your first kiss and you don’t even know him!”

Then the young man says, “Oh no! We have known each other for a long, long time, haven’t we Claire?”

When I awake, I realize that all those people in Great Grandma B’s house are truly in heaven, her heaven house and we are just visiting.

As for the mystery guy. I think I know who it is now. Did I mention this young man had beautiful dark brown skin? I thought it beautiful and wondered who he could be. I now know in my heart, it was Christopher Saylor, born to Sondra Saylor. A beautiful boy of biracial heritage. I met Sondra and Christopher only once or twice though Infants and Toddlers. Christopher shared some of the same gifts as you Claire and he went to heaven, only 8 months before you. His mommy recently contacted me and shared her heaven vision of Christopher. He would be a big strapping man, not in a wheelchair, burdened by his physical limitations but standing tall and strong and probably needing a first kiss of his own… I think he whispered sweet songs to you for the last 8 months you were with us.

What a comforting thought. Thank you, Christopher for looking out for her. This dream was such a holy moment for me because it put flesh to all the faith filled ideas I hold of heaven for my daughter Claire.

Thank you, Lord for comforting dreams of cute boys and first kisses. Amen