The Little Stream

Ever since I was a little girl, I had wanted to be a star, and that dream started when I was around seven years old.

I was a very typical child. Always playing, hanging out with my friends as much as I could, running around all the time, making plenty of noise (which was, I recall, a specialty of mine), and listening to stories and music and singing songs.

And it was actually that listening, that love of music and storytelling that led me to creating that very first, extra special, dream of mine.

To be a singer.

I know, I know. Every kid knows what they want to be when they’re seven, and my dream was definitely in the top ten “most wished for jobs of a seven year old”.

But now, looking back, I now realize how that wish was so much more than a typical dream of a very typical girl.

You see, music was, in a way, my life. I loved music so much that I was “singing” as soon as I began to voice words. I was always singing and dancing and making noise, and there was hardly a day where I didn’t beg my mom to play “just one more song” on our family radio.

So I suppose it wasn’t that much of a surprise when, one day, I announced to my family:

“I want to be a singer!” I declared, while at the dinner table, “And write songs for people to listen to!”

There was a pause of silence.

“Well,” Mom said reassuringly to me, “I’m sure you’d be a great singer, you do have a lovely voice.”

But other than those few words, no one else seemed to give any mind to my dreams and ambitions. In fact, after just a day or two they all seemed to forget entirely that any statement had even been made. They never meant to be rude, I know. But there was a pretty obvious (and, to be fair, valid) amount of doubt that I would actually be that star I dreamed I would be.

It wasn’t ‘till several weeks later, after my announcement, when I was given the chance to truly talk about that dream of mine.

Several weeks, and then came the day that I will never forget.

We were visiting my grandparents house, a good hour long drive from our home in the city to the countryside, to spend the day helping Grandma and Grandpa as well as hanging out with some of our cousins and their parents, who also came over to help.

I still remember a lot of what happened that day. Us kids had helped out with chores all morning, and at lunch our parents said that we could play outside for the rest of the afternoon as soon as we were done eating. It took us no time to finish up and get outside, so eager to spend every second we could playing together. Our parents stayed inside, still talking and eating, while Grandma, who had already finished, came outside with us to knit in her favorite chair on the porch.

We started playing hide and seek, and I had a perfectly good hiding spot behind one of the bushes nearby, thinking to myself that I would never be found.

Unfortunately though, my cousin already knew about that spot and had found me almost instantly.

It was a devastating loss, to be found so quickly. Even worse to be caught by someone who was younger than me (even if it was only by seven months). So, with great annoyance, I stomped over to sit on the deck and wait for the round to be over, which, I knew, would most likely take forever since my older sister and cousin were sure to be hiding in some bizarre and annoyingly brilliant place that would be near impossible to find.

“Been found already?” Grandma asked as I plopped down on the deck near her.

I nodded, still really annoyed but starting to calm down. Afterall, it was still a most perfect day, and it was too hard to stay mad while the breeze hit your face just right, and the birds chirped and sang.

We both sat in silence for a while. I watched as my cousin ran around trying to find any more hiders while Grandma continued knitting.

“So,” Grandma said, breaking the silence, “I hear that you want to be a singer.”

I looked up to see her watch me with keen interest. It was one of the reasons I loved Grandma so much. She always took time to talk to us kids, and was genuinely interested in what we had to say.

“Yes," I replied, "I want to write and sing songs.”

Grandma nodded.

“That is an excellent job,” She said with a smile, “For a girl as passionate and kind as yourself.”

I smiled. Grandma always said the nicest things to me.

“What makes you want to be one?” Grandma asked.

I thought for a moment.

“I want to be famous,” I said, “And inspire people with my music.”

“Hmm,” Grandma said slowly, “That is a very ambitious goal, indeed. How do you plan to get there?”

I didn't answer for a moment, and Grandma put her knitting aside.

“It is such a pretty day,” Grandma mused, standing up from her seat, “What do you think? Shall we take a stroll together through the woods?”

I looked back at the others. They were probably gonna be awhile anyways.

“Yes, we shall.” I said with a grin.

We told my parents, as well as the other kids, where we were going, and set out on our “stroll” as Grandma would always call the long hiking trail next to their house.

The woods (which stretched over fifty acres of land) weren’t actually a part of Grandma and Grandpa’s property. It belonged to a neighbor that lived several houses down the road. The man was a friend of my grandparents, so it was agreed that, as long as we were careful and didn’t go destroying the place, we were allowed to wander around there as much as we liked.

I was perfectly fine with that. I loved those woods. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. Since it was on a dirt road in the country there was hardly any traffic to hear, and in those woods, if you were real quiet, all you could hear was the birds chirping, the leaves rustling, the occasional squirrel or chipmunk scurrying away in the brush and, if we were close enough, we could hear a few of the streams that ran by.

It was, and still is, the most magical place that I had ever seen.

We walked through those woods, enjoying the scenery and beauty of it all. Sometimes we talked, while other times we stayed silent, immersed in the woods silent majesty.

We were just passing by another stream, this one surrounded by many large stones and rocks, when Grandma motioned for us to stop and take a rest.

“It’s so beautiful here, isn’t it, Em?” Grandma asked.

I nodded in agreement. That little waterfall was one of my favorite spots in the woods, with it being near the center of them, the water sparkling and dancing in the sunlight that just peaked out through the trees, the plants and trees that framed the surrounding area. It was a beautiful place.

“Come, let’s rest for a moment.” Grandma said, sitting down on a large rock that allowed us to rest and enjoy the perfect landscape.

I walked over and sat down next to her, watching the stream continue to dance and sing joyously.

We watched in silence for a moment. Then, Grandma said something that I will never forget.

“Have I ever told you the story,” Grandma asked me quietly, “About this little stream?”

I couldn't recall and shook my head, however I was very eager to hear any story from Grandma, as she always told the best ones.

“Well,” Grandma started with a smile, “It is a sad story, in a way. But in another, it is one of the most wonderful stories you could ever hear.”

I was confused. Grandma told only happy stories.

“Don’t worry,” Grandma said with a laugh, seeing my concern, “It really is a joyous tale, it just can be sad, depending on how one sees it.”

I nodded, but was still confused and uncertain.

“Well, my story begins a long long time ago,” Grandma said, “when this little stream here first entered these woods. At that time, this little stream set out on her journey with some very big plans. She was eager to begin her life, and she knew just how to live it. You see, she wanted to be big and strong and powerful. She wanted to be like other big rivers and falls, maybe even bigger than them. You remember the Niagara Falls you saw last summer?”

“Yes,” I said, remembering how large and powerful those falls had been.

“Well, I imagine that this little stream wanted to be just like that.” Grandma said, “Something so big and strong that people would look to and feel inspired to do great and wonderful things."

“But, look around,” she continued, gesturing at all the simple nature we were surrounded by, “It appears to be the opposite of that, as it is a little stream. Why do you think that is?”

I looked around and shrugged my shoulders, unsure.

“Well, I must say that I don’t rightly know the science behind such things,” Grandma admitted, “but I imagine it’s because of all these big trees, and rocks. You see, if those trees weren’t there, this stream would have more water to flow down. The trees take up so much water that there’s hardly any left for the stream to run with. Plus, with all the animals that live here, one is left to assume that they take a lot of water from her too. So she flows down with not nearly the amount of water that she has had previously.

“And the rocks. There are so many here that it’s downright impossible to get through this place without hitting at least one of them, and I imagine that this stream hit a few at least. The resistance that she gets from hitting all those stones and rocks must surely make it harder to get through. And what's more, it undoubtedly hurts to be hit, twisted and turned by so many sharp and rough objects, that it must have caused her a great deal of pain to get through, especially at the first.

“And it is because of those two things,” Grandma said, “that she has remained the little stream that she has always been, not the great river that she dreamed she would be.”

I looked back at the stream and the woods that I had so loved, suddenly becoming angry at the thought of what these woods had taken from her. It was because of these woods that this stream wouldn’t ever be able to be what she wanted to be. They had hurt her and pushed her around, and she still wouldn’t be able to reach that dream of hers.

“But that’s not fair!” I exclaimed. “The stream should get her dream, shouldn’t she? Can’t somebody help her?”

“As a matter of fact,” Grandma said, smiling at me, “Someone can help her, because He has control over all things.”

“...God?” I asked.

“God.” Grandma confirmed.

I knew God. My family’s been going to church every Sunday since before I could remember. I had grown up learning all about how good and kind He was.

“But why?” I asked, suddenly so confused, “I thought He was good! And if He is, then why have her dream still not come true? Did she do something wrong?”

“No,” Grandma said with a laugh, “No, she did nothing wrong. In fact, she followed God quite well all of her life, though, maybe, her faith in Him was a little weak. And He is good. In fact, He is the only true good in this world.”

“So why didn’t He help her?” I asked. “Can He not do it?”

“He certainly can!” Grandma exclaimed, though not with anger, “Why, if He wanted to, He could make this little stream as big and as grand as the ocean itself! Right now if He so wanted to! But, my dear,” Grandma said gently, “He didn’t make her big and strong like she wanted because He had a much greater, more important, plan for her.”

“More important than those falls?” I asked.

“Yes,” Grandma said, “Much, much more important than any of those old waterfalls and rivers.”

The falls were huge. Where this little stream just sprinkled and spit water at us every now and then, the Niagara Falls gushed water, threatening to even overturn the boat if we got too close to it. It was a force no one was eager to go up against, one that couldn't help but make onlookers watch with awe at its greatness.

So how could this little stream’s purpose be more important than that?

“Little Em,” Grandma said to me, responding to my unspoken question, “I want you to look around. What do you see?”

I looked around.

“The woods.” I said, not sure what else I could see. "Just... woods."

“Look closer.” Grandma said encouragingly, “Search deeper than the surface.”

I looked around again.

“I see… trees, bushes, rocks…”

Grandma gestured for me to continue.

“... dirt, sunlight-” I saw something scurry up a tree, “-squirrels, chipmunks” something flew by “birds, bugs, leaves, flowers, grass, plants, pinecones, spiders, berries, deer, water-” I looked at Grandma, “I see the woods.”

Grandma nodded her head.

“You see the woods.” Grandma said, “You see what God has preserved for His creation to enjoy.”

I looked at her, confused.

“I don’t understand.” I complained.

“Well, what if this stream did become as big and as grand as she wanted to be?” Grandma asked me. “What if she did become a massive falls just like she wanted?”

I thought for a minute, and then looked around at those woods.

“The trees would be gone.” I said, suddenly realizing what she was trying to say. “And… all the plants and animals.”

“Yes, that is correct,” Grandma said, nodding her head solemnly. “These woods, as well as much as the surrounding area, would be flooded with not just one massive river, but also the smaller ones that would sprout from her. All the animals and birds that live here would have to find a new home, and these trees would be washed away completely.”

“And what’s more, we wouldn’t have a home,” Grandma said, staring at the little stream, “Our house, along with almost all the homes around here, would not be able to remain since the water would surely drive us away. What’s more, this calm and peaceful place would be a hopping tourist attraction, loud and busy, no place at all to relax and feel closer to God.”

I hadn’t thought of that. I remembered all the walks me and my family made through here, all the times we played on the rocks, splashed in the water, ran through the trees, and all the memories made that we would've never had…

Had that stream been what she wanted to be.

“One final reason,” Grandma said, “that God turned down her dream, is that now she shows us how we need to live.”

Suddenly my heart sank. Was she saying I couldn't be a singer?

“Remember how I said that she stayed true to God?” Grandma asked, “But she perhaps lacked some faith?”

I reluctantly nodded my head.

“Well,” Grandma said, “I imagine this stream was real unhappy with God’s decision as well.

‘You can do anything!’ she would cry, ‘why can I not be a strong river like those others?’

And He would look at her with such love

‘Be patient,’ He would reply, ‘Yes, I can bring down all the water you will ever need, and more besides, clear out all the rocks, and make your way smoother than honey. But My plans for you are much greater than anything that you have ever dreamed, and as long as you continue to follow Me and trust in My plan, you will find peace and joy all your days.’

“Now, as we can see,” Grandma said, “she didn’t become the falls that she wanted to be. Instead, she is still a little stream. But look at the beauty, look at the life that she brings each and every day. I know the Lord was right to give us such beauty as her, don’t you?”

I looked around again. A truly beautiful woods, and yet…

“It is beautiful,” I told Grandma, “But what about the stream? Is… is she happy?”

Grandma didn’t speak for a moment, and I wondered why.

“Yes,” Grandma said at last, suddenly sounding sad, “Yes, she is happier now than she has ever been. That joy and peace that the Lord promised her has been granted to her time and time again, so much more than she ever imagined.” She turned to me, tears in her eyes. but a smile on her face, “Little Em, remember this. When times are hard, when you have been pushed, twisted, drained and hurt by life’s trials, don’t forget the Lord. He hasn’t forgotten you, and never will. Em, seek that dream of yours, work hard and reach for the calling that He has for you.

“But if that is not His will, if He decides that you need to be a little stream instead of a mighty river, remember that His plan for you is much greater, so much greater, than you could ever ever dream of.”

I am now forty years old, and I have not forgotten.