She stood there gazing up at the Wishing Tree.  What was a little girl doing here in the forest all by herself.  She looked no older than ten.  Where were her parents?  He wondered if he should approach her.  Maybe she was told not to talk to strangers.  He didn’t want to frighten her.  Suddenly she turned and saw him.  “Mister,” she called.  “Could you help me to put this on that branch up there?”

He went over to her.  She was holding a pretty pink shawl in her hand.  “Why do you want to put it up there?” he asked.  “Why not on a lower branch, one that you can easily reach?”

“I want to put it high because it would be closer to heaven where God is.”

Her simple answer warmed his heart.  He studied. She reminded him of someone.  “All right.  Show me which branch you want me to put it on.”

She handed him the shawl and pointed to the branch.  “That one.”

Continue reading at Deborah’s Deliberations