“Worry gives small things big shadows.”

Swedish proverb

The clap of thunder shook the house with such force that pictures on the bedroom walls rattled. From the room at the far end of the hallway I heard a small voice declare, “Oh my!” The sound of little feet could soon be heard padding toward the bedroom. In moments our four-year-old granddaughter Alexis was scrambling onto the bed and diving under the covers between my wife and me. After a few moments, she popped her head out and looked around.

Half asleep, Alexis’s mom, Bethany, came trudging down the hallway, leaned against the doorframe and yawned. “Everything OK?” she asked. “I thought I heard Alexis.”

“It’s OK,” my wife replied, then pointed to the little visitor snuggle...

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