Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Because it was a day of celebration, all the adults around the Ludlow grandchildren and Trent and Stepforth little ones decided to let them stay out with their friends past the early bedtimes for the littlest ones, although …
“Just because you miss bedtime doesn't mean bedtime is going to miss you,” Mrs. Thalia Ludlow said as she picked up her softly snoring baby grandson, five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow, while Capt. R.E. Ludlow picked up equally snoring six-year-old grandson Grayson.
The older children of the set under 12 watched bedtime, and their adults, tenderly come get the littler ones.
“I remember those days,” eight-year-old Gracie Trent said. “Even when they let you get away with something, you can't – they even got Amanda, and she's so gone, she probably won't even remember that she got her shower before bed.”
“Pays to be eight!” eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow said.
“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said, and then she and Edwina heard a sound and then went to huddle up with eleven-year-old Eleanor, ten-year-old Andrew, and nine-year-old George, who had all started bawling as Col. H.F. Lee and Gracie's older siblings nine-year-old Milton and eleven-year-old sibling Velma along with their nine-year-old cousin Vertran Stepforth all came running.
“We just watched this and realized we are all really loved and safe here – no more Crazy Town!” George said.
“We came to comfort him and it got to us,” Andrew said, “because this is so real now.”
“Yeah!” Edwina said, and then she started crying.
“We're your friends and we got you – Col. Lee, hold 'em all until I get back with holy water for everybody – Lord, I need you to bless a whole dozen of those little bottles for us!” Gracie said.
“I'll help you,” Vertran said. “Those dozens are kinda heavy when you are in a hurry.”
Later, when finally all kids under 16 were at last in bed, the Stepforth grandparents, Ludlow grandparents, and big Lee cousins all huddled up and prayed together.
“We are God's coalition of hope for these kids,” Mr. Thomas Stepforth said. “You and I were just talking about this, Capt. Ludlow – this is our most important work. The Lord just showed us all!”
“Good to see the men getting it,” Mrs. Ludlow later said to Mrs. Velma Stepforth said.
“Yes, because we as mothers and grandmothers are expected to know,” Mrs. Stepforth said, “and it is good when the Lord gets everybody on one accord. Col. Lee is starting well, though, I must say.”
“Robert's colonel cousin paid a high enough price, early in life, to understand,” Mrs. Ludlow said. “His first wife and child died shortly after childbirt. He was not yet 19.”
“Not everybody learns and not everybody learns at the same rate,” Mrs. Stepforth said. “The Lord has to open the eyes – we thank Him that He does!”
