Wednesday, February 21, 2024
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Estancia at the Arboretum
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.
Not every four-year-old gets to savor a fancy lunch surrounded by windows and sunlight at a Brazilian steakhouse. But Jasper is getting to be a veteran; we’ve been there together three times now and will continue to visit until he’s six, when the price goes up dramatically.
Jasper knows exactly how to use his tongs to catch the meat sliced for him at our table. He manipulates the wood handled steak knife with relative ease, although the tool is longer than his hand is wide. A lot longer. The server takes it away as a matter of course (he’s only 4!), but we bring it back again. He has learned to cut meat and does a pretty good job. He also knows how to stick out his tongue …
We visit the long, luscious salad bar too. “Can I go up there and put stuff on my own plate?” Well, yes, if you can reach it. Jasper is getting taller and he can reach more of it every time.
But what we enjoyed the most was his quiet confidence. He wasn’t looking around google-eyed this time, not at all. He didn’t need instruction or correction or any other …tion; he was just a good companion. We sat outside awhile after we were full and finished. The chairs were just right for his height. He could put his feet on the ground. That unusual experience made him SMILE. With his whole tongue!
Later at his house Aki was leaving for his judo class. Jasper saw his dad wearing his shitabaki (judo pants) and ran clear across the room as fast as he could and tackled him. “You’re going to judo. Let’s do some judo!” He pulled Aki’s legs but didn’t get too far. Aki was already almost late.
Outside I made Aki another minute late. “It’s so cool to watch Jasper be safe with you, the way he piles into you like that.” Aki smiled. “I wonder if I ever did that with my dad,” I said. And I thought probably not.
But Aki said, smiling, “I’ll bet you did, when you were four.” And he’s right. I’ll bet I did. The pictures I have of my own dad when I was a 4 year old or younger kiddo invariably are graced with his big broad smile. And he was a soldier, after all. Even in World War II, soldiers might have learned a little judo.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
It was so good yesterday to revel in the company of our friend-grandson Jasper, and to spend a few minutes with his parents, and to remember with great love my own parents, and how they were. And how I was.
Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.
Now and forever.
(Jonah 3, Psalm 51, Joel 2, Luke 11)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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