Logan's Guest

by Mary Alberta Benson

Mother stood at the bottom of the stairs and called upward. “Logan, wake up! It’s almost time for breakfast.” She hurried into the kitchen and began setting the table.

“I want to help!” Three-year-old Emily tugged at Mother’s skirt.

Mother smiled down at her little girl. “Thank you, sweetie pie! Will you run and ask Daddy to make sure Logan is out of bed?”

A few minutes later, Father and Emily knocked at Logan’s door. “Wise an’ shine!” Emily chirped.

Father opened the door. “Up and at it, son, or we’ll be late for church.”

Logan groaned and shoved back his covers. “All right, all right. Just a minute.”

When Logan dropped into his place at the table several minutes later, the family bowed their heads. “Our Father, we thank You for this Sabbath,” Father prayed. “We ask You to dwell in our hearts and home today, and also to bless this food. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Logan didn’t say a word all through breakfast. He dawdled on his last few bites as Mother cleared the dishes. “You’d better hurry and get dressed, Logan. I hope you made your bed already.”

Logan made a face, then pushed his chair back and thudded up to his room.

Mother sighed. “Lord, please keep working with Logan,” she whispered. “He could be a good boy if he wanted to be.”

Kitchen helper
Logan was quiet all the way back from church. When the family reached home, Logan hurried up to his room without a word. But soon he appeared, smiling, in the kitchen. “How can I help, Mother?”

Mother paused from tossing the salad. “Well, you could set the table,” she smiled.

Logan had just finished laying out the silverware when Mother brought out the bread and salad. “Very nice job, Logan!” Mother’s eyes circled the table and then rested on her son. “Even the napkins are folded just right!”

Logan beamed.

After dinner, Logan sprang from his seat. “I’ll clear the table, everyone. You go get ready for a Sabbath walk.”

Father and Mother raised their eyebrows at each other before they slipped away, leaving the cleanup to Logan. When Mother walked by the kitchen a few minutes later, Logan was talking softly as he stacked the dishes in the sink. She poked her head around the corner. “Is Emily in here?”

“No, she isn’t.” Logan blushed. “I was talking to—er—somebody else.”

“Oh?”

“It’s OK, Mother.” Logan grinned.

Puzzled parents
The next morning, Logan got up as soon as Mother called. After some quiet time, he hurried to the kitchen to help with breakfast. He and Mother chatted as they set out the meal. At breakfast, Logan helped Emily fix her plate, and he passed things to Mother and Father even before they asked.

After helping to clear the table, Logan went to his room—but his low murmur drifted down to the kitchen where Mother was washing dishes.

Mother dried her hands and found Father at his desk. “What do you think has gotten into Logan?”

“What do you mean?” Father looked up at Mother.

“He’s suddenly helpful, and neat, and timely!”

“Well, good for him!” Father smiled.

“Yes, but—do you think everything is OK? I’ve heard him talking to himself twice now.”

“Well, he seems to be eating like a boy, as usual,” Father chuckled. “And he’s been pleasant to be around, right?”

Mother smiled and nodded.

“I say, enjoy it.” Father slipped his arm around Mother’s waist. “Maybe our prayers are being answered.”

Spotless room
After Logan left for school the next morning, Mother went into his room to collect his laundry. When she opened the door, she drew in her breath in amazement. The bedspread was smooth and even, and the desk was tidy and organized. Mother opened the closet. She shook her head to see a neat row of shirts and pants, with Logan’s shoes lined up across the back. She opened the dresser drawers. Everything was folded and in order.

I wonder if Logan will be just as different at school. She closed the bedroom door.

Test on the playground
As Logan approached the school building, he stopped for a moment and bowed his head. “Now,” he said, “I have to be careful. You stay close, Sir.”

That morning, Logan paid full attention during class. When the teacher called for the class to be quiet, Logan was the first to settle down. When recess time came, he joined the line and quietly filed out. As he stepped out the door, he let out a sigh. “Whew! That was hard work, Sir.”

“Hey, let’s play dare base!” Ryan started drawing the baselines in their class’s section of the playground.

“Great idea,” Logan agreed. “I’ll draw the lines for the other side!”

Just then, one of the girls stepped forward. “Can’t you guys play something else?” she complained. “You’re taking up the whole area.”

Logan leaned over to begin making the lines. Then, suddenly, he straightened. “Hey, guys,” he suggested, “let’s play in the other direction, so that the girls can have half the space.”

“No way! We want the whole thing!” one of the boys shouted.

“Yeah, who do you think you are, anyway?” Ryan punched his fist into his palm and strutted over to Logan.

“I’ll show you—” Logan stopped and grinned. “Aw, you know who I am. Anyway, the other direction would work just as well. See, the bases would be right there and over there.” He pointed. “Let’s be fair!”

The boys grumbled a little, but soon they were enjoying a good game of dare base on their half of the playground, while the girls played on the other side.

When the whistle blew to end recess, Logan wiped his forehead. “What a narrow escape,” he whispered. “Thanks for reminding me, Sir.”

Homework helper
That evening after supper, Logan slipped up to his room and pulled out his schoolbooks and notepad. “It’s nice of You to ask me to do this, so Mother and Father don’t have to nag.” He smiled and began his math lesson.

In less than half an hour, Logan had finished his assignment. Right then, Mother called to him. “Logan, you need to do your homework.”

“It’s all done, Mother,” Logan called back. “Thanks to You, Sir,” he added quietly.

Special guest
Just after Logan went to bed that night, Mother peeked into his room. Logan was still awake. “Won’t you tell me what all of this is about?” she asked.

“Can’t you guess?” Logan grinned in the dark.

“No dear, I haven’t been able to guess, but I do like it.” Mother knelt by Logan’s bed.

“Well, Mother, you know how we sometimes pray for Jesus to live in our hearts and home? We studied about that in Sabbath School. I started wondering how I would act if He came here and stayed with us for a while. So I tried it.”

“That’s wonderful!” Mother exclaimed. “But why have you been talking to yourself so much?”

Logan hesitated. “I suppose it sounds silly, but I thought if I could see Jesus going with me everywhere I go, I would probably talk to Him—so that’s what I’ve been doing. I thought He’d like to have a clean room to stay in, so I cleaned my room up for Him. And since He is my special guest, I’ve been trying to do the things that He likes, to make Him happy.”

Mother kissed Logan’s forehead. “What a lovely experiment! Have you enjoyed it?”

“I sure have! I’ve been much happier than when I did whatever I felt like doing.” Logan stared at the moon shining in his window. “I found out something,” he told Mother. “Jesus gives my life meaning. Tonight I told Him that He doesn’t have to be a guest anymore—He can make His home right with me all the time.”

“I’m sure He’ll be delighted to stay.” Mother smoothed Logan’s blankets. “And you can tell Him that Father and I are glad to have Him here, too.” Mother stood up. “Good night, dear.”

“Good night, Mother,” Logan called as she closed the door. He smiled and spoke more softly. “Good night, Jesus. I’m glad You've come to stay.”