The most dreaded Disease

     The phone rang one day and I heard my daddy say, "No, oh no. When? How long was he sick?" 
     I was in fourth grade, we were living in East Peoria, Illinois. The phone call was from Des Moines, Iowa, where we had lived for several years and my daddy was pastor of a church.
     In that church was a family with just one son, Eddie. They had lost a daughter shortly after she was born. 
     We waited until Daddy hung up the phone for him to tell us the bad news. Eddie had died of polio, the most dreaded disease.
     NO! Not Eddie! Why? Why, God? Why Eddie? 
     Eddie was about a year older then I was. He was an outstanding boy. Eddie loved school and had many friends. He loved Jesus and wasn't afraid to tell anyone. In fact he loved telling folks, of all ages, about Jesus! 
     I have so many memories of Eddie. One day, playing in a park with friends, a rabid dog began chasing the boys. Eddie ran home, with his arms in the air, praying loudly, "Help me, Jesus, Help me, Jesus!"
God did help him run into the house and slam the door shut just as the dog ran up the porch steps. A dog catcher came and retrieved the dog a few minutes later.
     Eddie raised money for a children's home, by going door to door, asking for donations. He felt so badly for the children with no parents he often cried as he told of their plight. He raised more money for the Woodstock Children's Home than any other child. (Back in the late 40's and early 50's it was possible to go door to door to raise money.) A prize of a new bicycle was awarded to him, but a better prize for Eddie was in knowing he had helped the unfortunate children who had abusive parents or no parents at all.
     We were told Eddie's mother sat beside his hospital bed, crying softly. Eddie reached over and put his hand on her arm, "Don't cry, Mama," he said, "I'm going to live with Jesus."
     The next day Eddie did go to be with Jesus. A very sad day on earth...but a day of rejoicing in heaven.
     Someday I'm going to see Eddie again...