As the glitter settles and I remove a Lego from my shoe, I smile and remember our grandbabies’ visit. I expect the aftermath of our three little tornadoes. But this time, they each left me with a glimpse of God.
You may remember Madison, the one who dances with rose petals. While digging into art supplies, she found stickers from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and was inspired to write letters to children she’s never met. In her sparkly, nine-year-old style, she assured them of their value, God’s love and – quite concerned with their fun – she created a sticker match game. No ordinary letter for Madison Grace.
Then there’s Braden Lucas. Our small, but brave kindergartener. When offered a fresh baked apple fritter, he looked up with those big brown-green eyes, “Make sure you save one for Aunt Hannah.” He got me. I wasn’t even thinking of my twenty-year-old daughter. I was too busy dodging Nerf arrows and wiping up muddy footprints.
And that brings us to Ashley Marie.
Grabbing a few quiet moments while our little peeps played outside, my husband and I tapped away on our computers.
As is common with three, the youngest gets ditched. In this case, it was our strawberry blonde, blue-eyed, four-year-old who was told, “You count, we’ll hide.” And hide they did.
Ashley’s the calm one. She speaks bluntly. But only when there’s something important to say.
Like when she came in and stood next to Poppa with teary eyes and the biggest, cutest frown ever. “My fwends won’t pway wiff me.” Poppa brushed the hair from her eyes and held out his arms. “Would you like a jelly bean?” Ashley nodded, smeared snot across her cheek with the back of her hand, and climbed onto his lap.
Her eyes brightened as Poppa poured the treats into his hand. She picked two. Not just any two. A green one for her brother and a purple one for her cousin. Then choosing a pink one for herself, she thanked Poppa and ran off to bless her betrayers … I mean … her “fwends.”
In that moment, I see a snapshot of God and our relationship with Him. Ashley trusted Poppa. She ran to Him, knowing He’d help her.
We can run to God with the same confidence. We cry, smear some snot, and are comforted in his wide-open arms. Then we’re empowered to go and share that love with others.
So, even as I find jelly beans in the bathroom and Easter grass twisted up in my vacuum, I thank God for my grandbabies. They are sweet reminders that He’s here and He wants a relationship with us. May we draw close to Jesus, and share His gifts with others.
Even when they’re stinkers.
☮💗
Update: We have 6 grandbabies now. In the years since I wrote this in 2015, we’ve added Rowan, Luna Sophia, and Alexander. Kids have a way of reminding us what’s good and right in the world, don’t they? May we learn from them always…to be kind, unselfish, and empathetic 💖
