“Mama! Mama!” Daniella excitedly rushed into the dining room.
“What is it, Daniella?” Susan asked as she prepared the breakfast table.
The combined aroma of the golden brown pancakes, glistening syrup and butter cubes filled the room.
“I can’t wait to tell you about last night.” Daniella bounced upon her seat.
“Give me a sec, honey. I still have to fetch the bacon and eggs.” Her mother disappeared into the kitchen. “You may start without Dad and Rob,” her voice echoed. “The car had a flat tire, they’re fine but they might be a bit late.”
Daniella’s mother returned with another dish filled with newly fried bacon and eggs. The sumptuous smell alone of all that food was enough to satisfy her growling tummy.
“Said grace, dear?”
“Uhuh…” Daniella nodded with a wide grin.
“Then why aren’t you digging in yet?” Her mom was bewildered. “Blueberry pancakes are supposed to be your favorite.”
“’Coz I want to tell you ’bout last night first!”
“It must be very important if you’re more excited about it than attacking the pancakes, bacon and eggs.”
“Yup!”
“So what happened last night?” She served her some pancakes. She was more amazed that Daniella wasn’t distracted by this.
“Last night . . . I had a dream . . .”
“So did I . . . ,” her mom teased her. She tried distracting her again by pouring the syrup in circular motions before her little princess. But this didn’t distract her either.
“Okay, I give up, honey. What was your dream about?”
“I dreamed about Jesus!” Her eyes widened as she readied herself to share her dream.
“Hey, pretty lady, you can very well tell me while having your breakfast, right?”
“Yeh.” Daniella complied by helping herself to pancakes.
“So what was the dream about?” her mom asked as she served herself some bacon and eggs.
Gulp! Smack!] “Yesu, tohold mhe . . .” Munch. Gulp!
“Young lady, you know better than trying to talk with your mouth full!”
“But yoh . . .” Gobble. You asked me . . . !”
“Okaaaay, take your time, Miss Muppet.” She filled her glass with juice. “So what did Jesus say? Did He tell you to do your chores?” She mischievously winked at her Daniella.
She took one more mouthful and continued. “Nope . . . “ Slurp! “Not chores!”
“I was hoping it was that.” Her mom exaggeratedly pouted.
“Jesus said He dreamed about me,” she exclaimed.
“Wow, dear, that’s called a dream about a dream!”
“And He was so nice to be with!”
“Really? What did else He tell you or show you?” She served her some bacons and an egg.
“I can’t remember all but I just felt so good to be with Him.” Daniella started with the bacon and eggs.
“So what else can you remember, dear?”
“He said something ’bout heaven. If I wanted to go there, I had to be good.”
“Well, isn’t that nice. I guess you can begin with the chores,” she reminded her daughter again.
“Okay, Mommy. If it will help me go to heaven and make you happy.”
“That’s the spirit, dear!” she said. “But thank Jesus for that idea.”
“Mom?” Daniella suddenly became serious.
“More pancakes, dear?”
“Nope, but I remember Jesus also . . .”
“Did He give you a sneak preview of heaven?”
“Nope . . .” Daniella scratched the tip of her nose. “Oh, I remember. He showed me the place where I could enter heaven.”
“And where would that place be, dear?”
“He brought me to a hill with some people on it.”
“And . . . ?”
“I was beside Mama Mary and another guy.”
“And Jesus?”
“He was on the cross, and smiling at me from there,” Daniella said.
“Some more pancakes?” Susan tried not to show her that she was very moved with what she heard.
“Nope, I think I’ve had enough. ’Sides, I think taking less would make Jesus happy.”
At these words, Susan could no longer contain herself and said in a broken tone, “Honey, I know you’re doing that for Jesus. But He would also be happy if you’re also happy here. You’re a growing girl and eating the right amount would make Him happy too.”
“Okay, Mom,” Daniella obeyed but surprised her mom by slicing only half a pancake.
“That’s a pretty nice dream, honey. Be sure not to forget it,” Susan said.
“Yes, Mom!” Yum, yum, yum!
“Atta girl!”
“You know, Mom, before I woke up Jesus said how I could be really happy!” Daniella gently laid her utensils on her empty plate.
“Really, dear? What did He say?”
“That I would be most happiest if I bring you, Dad and Rob to heaven with me!”
“Let’s pray for that, dear. That’s for sure to make us most happiest.”