More Conversations with Maximus

Max: How do birds die?

Me: Well, lots of different ways. Some just get old and die. Some might get hit by a car.

Max: Remember at the park we went to with Addison and Preston and we saw that dead bird? Why do you think that bird died?

Me: I'm not sure. Maybe he was just an old bird and it was his time to die. It's a little like G.G. Huckaby. Remember? She had lived a long time and her body just stopped working right.

Max: But Grandmama's not going to die.

Me: What are you thinking about?

Max: Grandmama Vicki. She's not going to die because she's not old yet.

Me: You know, Max. Sometimes when grown-ups have cancer, the tiny parts of their body called cells don't work right. If the cancer is serious enough, even grown-ups who are not old can die. The kind of cancer that Grandmama has is the very serious kind. The good news is that God has the power to heal her body if He wants to. But He might also decide that it's almost time for her to go to Heaven with him. And that's okay, too, because she loves Jesus so much.

Max: (silent and thinking)

Me: You don't have to worry about it today, though, Max. Today Grandmama is feeling good and we can go spend some time with her.

Max: She is feeling all the way good? She's not sick anymore?

Me: No, her cells are still sick. But she feels good today. And we can enjoy every good day with Grandmama.

Max: When we were in Idaho, I was sick three times. But Daddy gave me Gatorade and it made me all better. And then when I was at the park with Anna and Jakin, I threw up.

Me: Everybody gets sick sometimes. But you don't have to worry about getting sick like Grandmama. All of your cells are working just right.

Max: Yes!