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This past weekend two of
our granddaughters, Hannah and Katie came for a visit.
We had a great time
together doing simple, everyday things that probably wouldn't be all that
impressive to too many people.
We ate our cereal on the
back porch. We called our lunch a picnic when we took it outside. We
sang nursery rhymes and children's songs.
Two-year-old Katie
chattered away. Five-year-old Hannah told us all about kindergarten and
even read to us. (It's amazing how quickly children can learn.)
When Pa went to take the
garbage to the dumpster, Hannah went along. She had a blast! She giggled
as she told me how badly it smelled. She explained to me how Pa tossed
the bags and they landed right where he aimed.
We played with the dogs
and cats. We fed the goldfish in our pond. Hannah said the blessing
before each meal. Together, we recited her bedtime prayers. I rocked
Katie to sleep. We took the girls to the zoo. They shuddered when they
spied the alligators and giggled when they saw the monkeys. We drew
pictures and colored.
We did nothing special.
But we had a great time doing it!
Sunday came much too
quickly. After four nights with Nana and Pa, it was time for the girls to
return home. I expected them to be thrilled to get back to their toy
room, their outside toys, their pets, and their home.
While they were happy to
see Mommy and Daddy, they did not want to leave Nana and Pa. We buckled
them securely in their car seats, gave them goodbye kisses, and returned
home, already missing the girls.
After they arrived home
and realized that Nana and Pa weren't around anymore, they were definitely
unhappy!
Our telephone rang. "I
want you, Nana," Katie whimpered. "I want Pa too."
Hannah came to the
telephone. "I miss you Nana," she cried. "I want you to come live with
me."
While I was not happy
that the girls were sad, I was happy to know they had a good time doing
nothing all that special with us. I was glad that they enjoyed their stay
with us. I was delighted for the time we had to spend with them. For
those few days, nothing interfered in my time with the girls. They were
my top priority.
On Monday morning, Katie
awoke asking her Daddy, "Where is Nana and Pa?" Tuesday morning, my
telephone rang. I picked it up. "I can't see you Nana," Katie announced.
"I want you." There's no way Katie could have possibly understood just
how badly I wanted her, as well. I wanted to hold her again, see that
sweet little grin, give her a great big old bear hug, and sing her
favorite nursery rhymes.
While we enjoyed our
time together, however, we all had to accept the fact that life goes on.
I had to start a new week and go back to work. Hannah had to return to
kindergarten and Katie had to go back to preschool. We had to file away
those fun times into our memory banks and continue on with life.
When was the last time
you enjoyed "nothing all that special" with your kids or grandkids?"
When was the last time
you giggled over the simple things in life?
If it's been too long,
won't you be determined to see life once again through the eyes of a
child? The Bible says, "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Are there some things a
child could teach you today? Hannah and Katie taught me some great truths
this past weekend. It is not always about what we do with the ones we
love, but the attitude in which we do it. We can have fun rocking and
singing. Breakfast is much more enjoyable on the back porch.
And even taking the
garbage to the dumpster is enjoyable when you do it with the people you
love.
-- Nancy B. Gibbs <DAISEYDOOD
@ aol.com> |
