Neemu

NEEMU

THE HAPPIEST SUNBEAM

Mr. Weather Man was cross. It was the Sunbeams again! Try as he might, some of them just would not come in when he sent the Wind to call them.
There was one Sunbeam in particular - Neemu - who was the naughtiest of all.
So Mr. Weather Man decided to call the Sun into his office for a very straight talk. As usual, Mr. Sun came in beaming all over his face. ‘Hello, Mr. Weather Man. Lovely day isn’t it?’ he said, smiling as he sat down.
‘Yes, Yes’ Mr. Weather Man answered irritably. ‘But we must have a serious talk about your Sunbeams.'
Oh, dear! Some of the brightness left Mr. Sun’s face as if a cloud had passed over it.
‘They are only little things’ he said apologetically. ‘They love playing.’
‘I know! But not when I call them in’ said Mr. Weather Man crossly. ‘You really must be firmer with them.’
Mr. Sun beamed again. ‘Of course. Of course’ he agreed.
‘I must point out’ insisted Mr. Weather Man, ‘That one day they may be chosen for a Special Occasion, and if we can’t rely on them - especially Neemu - they wont be able to go!’ Mr. Weather Man paused. ‘And such an Occasion may be coming up very soon - but I can’t say any more at the moment.'
Mr. Sun sighed. He hated pretending to be cross with his Sunbeams as he loved them so much, and enjoyed seeing them playing. He could understand how they didn’t want to go to bed. All little ones were the same! But he could also understand what Mr. Weather Man was meaning, and if a big Occasion was about to happen - well then, he certainly must speak to them.
‘I will speak to them very firmly’ he promised. ‘Especially Neemu.’
‘Very well’ said Mr. Weather Man. ‘I shall expect to see better behaviour in the future. You may go now.’
Mr. Sun was relieved, and he walked quickly across the room and closed the door quietly behind him.
As he hurried down the corridor the beam soon came back on his face, and by the time he stepped out on to the clouds he was his usual shining self.
At that moment Neemu sped across in front of him, dancing merrily with three other mischevious Sunbeams.
‘Neemu’ called Mr. Sun. ‘Come here, I wish to talk to you' and he walked back towards his office.
Neemu came at once, his happy little face radiating pleasure.
Mr. Sun gave him a wide smile - Neemu was such a happy little Sunbeam. Then he remembered he had to be stern with Neemu, and so he told him what Mr. Weather Man had said, finishing with 'And one day soon we may be called upon to do something very 'special' for Heavenly Father. You do want to be one of His 'Special' Sunbeams don't you?'
'Oh, yes' Neemu answered promising to be more obedient in the future.
Mr. Sun beamed at Neemu. 'Of course you will' he said. 'Now run along and remember Mr. Weather Man will be watching you.'
Neemu nodded solemnly, and quietly left the room determined to do his best to be one of Heavenly Father's 'Special' Sunbeams.
Over the next few weeks Mr. Weather Man kept a close eye on the naughty Sunbeams and smiled as he saw how good they were becoming, which was just as well as Heavenly Father called him to come to the Throne Room a few days later.
'I wonder if Heavenly Father wants to discuss the Big Occasion' he wondered as he knocked on the door.
A Courtier ushered him in and Mr. Weather Man found that it was indeed the big Occasion they discussed. Mr. Weather Man was amazed at what was about to happen as Heavenly Father unfolded His plan.
'Oh! The honour for the Sunbeams' he thought as he hurried back to his office. He then left a message for Mr. Sun to call and see him when he was off duty.
The Wind brought the message to Mr. Sun as he usually did, he was always so swift!
‘Have you any idea why Mr. Weather Man wants to see me?’ Mr. Sun asked the Wind rather anxiously.
‘Not really, but I think it’s good news as he was smiling happily’ he replied before he whooshed off, scattering the Sunbeams all over.
The Sunbeams laughed delightedly. They loved the Wind to give them a “Whoosh ride” as they called it.
As soon as his duty was over Mr. Sun knocked on the door of Mr. Weather Man’s office.
‘Come in’ he called. ‘Do sit down, Mr. Sun’ and he smiled at him.
Mr. Sun sat down happily.
‘Well now’ began Mr. Weather Man. ‘The great Occasion I told you about some time ago has now come.’ He then went on to explain to Mr. Sun exactly what his Sunbeams were to do.
Mr. Sun was delighted.
‘Will you be including Neemu?’ asked Mr. Weather Man.
‘Oh, yes, definitely. He is such a good Sunbeam now, and so happy’ Mr. Sun assured him.
‘Well, if you are sure’ Mr. Weather Man said. ‘But I would like you to have a talk with him first.’
‘I shall. Don’t worry, Mr. Weather Man’ Mr. Sun replied as he said ‘Good-bye’ and almost ran from the room.
Down the corridors he sped - almost as speedily as the Wind - until he came to the room where his Sunbeams were resting.
‘Come here all of you’ he called. ‘I have the most wonderful news for you.’
And it was Wonderful News. Mr. Sun explained that they were to watch Jesus being baptised!
A gasp of delight came from all the Sunbeams as they danced around delightedly. What an honour!
Mr. Sun chuckled, then said ‘Calm down my Sunbeams, there is more to tell.’
More! They looked at one another with sparkling eyes as once more they sat down calmly.
‘Heavenly Father is sending down a Dove to rest on Jesus then He will tell the people that this is His Beloved Son.’
A ripple of joy went round the Sunbeams as they nodded. ‘Yes! Jesus WAS God’s Beloved Son, and wouldn’t the people be thrilled to hear God’s Voice they said to one another, and they smiled and sparkled. Mr. Sun, looking at them, thought ‘If they shine and sparkle as they are now then they will do well on the Day.’
He smiled and nodded, then remembered that he hadn’t told his Sunbeams all the news! ‘There is an even more Importance Piece of News to tell you’ he began.
Instantly there was silence! ‘When the Dove goes down to rest on the Saviour’s head’ he began, then paused as the honour almost overwhelmed him. He coughed. ‘YOU are to go with him and shine and sparkle as never before.’
There! He had told them, and he sat down with a bump on the nearest armchair. It was almost too much for him!
Not so for the Sunbeams! They cheered and danced and jumped around, they were so happy and excited.
Mr. Sun was so pleased for them. ‘Remember, we shall all be watching you - each one’ he reminded them. ‘You must not think only of yourselves, you are there to show everyone that Jesus is God’s Son - And You Are To Reflect His Glory.’
The Sunbeams nodded quietly. Now that the first excitement was over they were beginning to realise how much of an honour Heavenly Father had given to them. He trusted them to radiate the Baptism and each one of them was determined to do their best and show their loving Heavenly Father how much this honour meant to them.
‘Rest now’ said Mr. Sun, ‘And I shall come for you when it is time.
They settled down immediately, no talking, no whispering, each one immersed in their own thoughts.
As Mr. Sun was leaving he called ‘Neemu, come with me for a moment please.’
Neemu’s heart sank. He wasn’t going to be allowed to go! He felt like crying. Slowly he followed Mr. Sun into his office, his head hanging down.
‘Don’t look like that, Neemu’ said Mr. Sun gently. ‘You may go with the others if you promise to be as good as you have been these past few weeks. Do you promise me?’ he asked.
Neemu’s face lit up. He sparkled and shone as he nodded his head - he just couldn’t speak.
Mr. Sun was satisfied. ‘Then of course you may go’ he said, his face beaming with joy. He hated to disappoint anyone. ‘Run along and rest with the others so that you may be at your best when I call you.’
So Neemu went back along the corridors and quietly opened the door of the Sunbeams’ Rest Room.
'Are you coming with us?' they asked anxiously as Neemu walked over to his yellow sun bed.
They all loved Neemu and didn't want him to be left behind.
Neemu's beaming smile gave them the answer even before he gave a delighted 'YES!'
How they all danced and cheered, scattering sunshine all round the room.
'Tut! Tut!' said Mr. Sun as he poked his head round the door. 'I told you to rest.'
'We are so happy Neemu is coming with us' they said as they quickly lay back on their sunbeds. Neemu lay down quietly too - the happiest little Sunbeam in all of Heaven.
Mr. Sun beamed 'It wont be long now' he assured them as he closed the door. And he was right!
Within moments it seemed they heard a voice ‘ALL SUNBEAMS TO THE DOOR.' 'ALL SUNBEAMS TO THE DOOR’ called the Herald. It was time!
Quickly they changed into their best Golden Robes and then crowded round the Door, so excited!
‘Don’t push!’
‘You are creasing my Robe’
‘You stood on my toes!’
The Herald frowned. ‘No-one who is grumbling will be allowed to go’ he said sternly.
Immediately there was silence! They weren’t cross with each other, just so excited that they had butterflies in their tummies.
Mr. Sun came to give them a last minute check and was satisfied. ‘You look beautiful’ he told them. ‘Now go and do your best.’
Then the Door opened and they stepped out on to the large cloud which was waiting for them. The Dove was already there, but it wasn’t quite time to go yet so Mr. Sun said ‘You may peep over the edge if you like, but just watch until I say “Go”.’
Hundreds of little Sunbeams with sparkling eyes immediately peered over the edge of the cloud, and way, way down below they saw JESUS - God’s Son.
He was talking to John the Baptist and asking to be baptised.
‘Oh, no!’ they heard John say. ‘I am not worthy to even carry your shoes!’
But Jesus said - ‘Please, John, I must do what is right.’
So John agreed. ‘Very well, Jesus’ he said. ‘Come into the water with me.’
‘GET READY!’ called Mr. Sun. The Sunbeams stood up smartly, the Dove rose into the air, and as Jesus came up out of the water after His Baptism, Mr. Sun shouted “GO.”
Off went the Dove at the speed of light, followed by a sparkling, shining, shimmering shower of Sunbeams. And as Heavenly Father called down “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, AND I AM WONDERFULLY PLEASED WITH HIM” the Dove rested on Jesus’ head, and the Sunbeams flowed around him as a shimmering cloud of gold. And Neemu shone and sparkled - the most radiant Sunbeam of all.
And as Mr. Sun, Mr. Weather Man and Heavenly Father looked down they nodded their heads. They were well pleased with Neemu, the most Sparkling, Shiniest Sunbeam of them all.