A Little Boy Comes Back to Life

There was a kind woman who lived in a town called Shunem. Whenever God's prophet Elisha traveled through her town, she would invite him to her house for dinner. She told her husband, 'Elisha is a man of God. Let's make a special little room for him with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he can stay with us whenever he comes through town!' Elisha was so grateful for her kindness. He asked his helper Gehazi, 'What can we do for this woman to thank her?' Gehazi said, 'Well, she doesn't have any children, and her husband is old.' Elisha called the woman and told her, 'Next year at this time, you're going to have a baby son!' The woman could hardly believe it—she had wanted a child for so long! But it was true! She had a baby boy, just like Elisha said. The boy grew up healthy and happy. One day, when he was older, he went out to the field where his father was working. Suddenly, the boy cried out, 'My head! My head hurts!' A servant carried him home to his mother, but the boy got sicker and sicker. At noon, he died in his mother's arms. The woman didn't panic. She gently laid her son on the bed in Elisha's room and closed the door. Then she quickly traveled to find Elisha. When Elisha saw her coming, he knew something was terribly wrong. The woman said, 'I need you to come with me right now!' Elisha hurried to her house. He went into the room, closed the door, and prayed to God. Then he lay down on top of the little boy—face to face, hands to hands. The boy's body started getting warm! Elisha walked around the room, then lay on the boy again. Suddenly, the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes! He was alive! The mother was so happy she could hardly stand. She bowed down to thank Elisha, then scooped up her son and hugged him tight. God had brought her boy back to life!