Chapter 7 - Page 95 - Jim's Promise

She seemed to have something on her mind. “Mister,” she said, “my Papa told me you’re a good man. Are you?”

   Jim was ready with an answer. “Sweetheart, God causes me to do good things for people.” He knelt on the ground so the children could gather around him.

   One little boy put his arm around Jim’s neck. “My Mama said you take care of us and you give us food.”

   Before Jim could answer, the first little girl eagerly added to her friend’s comment, “Not just food! My Mama said he gives us a house and clothes and even gives us smiles.”

   Jim had a chance now to tell the children what he wanted them to know. “God does all those things for you,” he said, “and He lets everyone think I do it.”

   The children didn’t understand about God, because they never saw him. They believed what their parents told them. A shy little girl built up the courage to have her say. “Mister,” she said in a timid voice, her head lowered, “my big brother said you care about us, like you’re everyone’s papa.” She slipped away from Jim.

   Jim knew the little girl didn’t have a papa. He put his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead. “I love each and every one of you with all my heart,” he said.

   Slowly, the shy girl raised her head and her eyes met Jim’s. “I love you, too, Papa,” she said.

   There were a few seconds of silence, then all the children began yelling, “Can we call you Papa, too?” They jumped up and down. “Can we, Papa, can we?”

   Jim didn’t want to upset the children’s parents by letting them call him Papa. “You can all call me Papa,” he said, “if your mamas and papas say you can.”