Gracie brought me two kinds of dandelions. In one hand she held a bright group she hoped I’d put in a vase. In the other she held a dandelion whose yellow days were gone. She held the white fluff between us and said, “Make a wish, Auntie.”

Together we wished and blew. For a second, as we watched the fluffy seeds lift in the breeze, it seemed as if our wishes mingled in the air.

I didn’t ask Gracie what she wished for and she didn’t ask me. We just giggled as dandelion seeds caught in our eyelashes and hair.

I will tell you my wish because I’m not a wishy kind of woman.  Looking at the beautiful little girl in front of me a whisper from my heart lifted heavenward and wasn’t really a wish at all.

“Lord, I wish Gracie will be completely healed from Rheumatoid Arthritis. In Jesus Name, Amen!”

Gracie is enjoying what her doctor calls a remission. She believes Jesus answered our prayers and made her well. Oh for the faith of a child. Really. I want that kind of faith. I want to believe without doubt. To Gracie it’s a fact. To the rest of us it’s a wait and see kind of thing.

A few weeks ago we went to Gracie’s first dance recital. She did both ballet and tap. I sat in my wheelchair on pins and needles wondering if she was nervous. Then the little girl whose knees and ankles were once nearly frozen by disease entered the limelight with her dance group (The Jam Babies) and made all the right moves as her now free joints tapped and pointed to the music. 

I watched this beautiful child and thanked the One who loves her more than I can imagine. I know for sure on our “make a wish auntie day” He listened to our dandelion moment. God heard. God knows. God has a plan.

As Gracie sparkled on stage, my heart did a little dance of its own in my chest. It beat to the powerful song of hope born of Gracie’s faith.