Friday, July 30, 2021                          (today’s lectionary)
God’s in charge of celebrations
The Lord said to Moses, “These are the festivals of the Lord which you shall celebrate at their proper time: the Passover of the Lord, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Celebration of First Fruits, the Feast of the Fiftieth Day (Pentecost in Greek), the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths … these therefore are the festivals of the Lord.
Grandparents have the best of both worlds, right? We get to play with our grandkids and then leave, while their parents feed and put them to bed, make them pick up their toys and clothes, or (in fact) pick up their toys and clothes for them.
But Margaret and I have a special responsibility that, while worrying about it doesn’t keep us up at night, is important to all of us. Because we are intimate with these kiddos but not with them all the time, we must specialize in encouragement and building them up.
My friend Sheryl said, “Adults are a favorite children’s toy. When their response isn’t negative it’s like giving them a hundred dollar bill.” Yes! That’s often easier for us than for their parents, so when we turn negative the kids really suffer.
Sing with joy to God our help. Take up a melody, and blow the trumpet at the new moon and the full moon, on this our solemn feast.
The morning after Jasper’s Wednesday birthday party, when we put together a super Thomas the Train track, Andi said they woke up early to play.
Then she said, with admirable aplomb, “Train track didn’t stay together long. Maybe it was a silent cry from them to have grandpa come play.” Margaret said about the night before, “I’ve never seen the three of them happier. Great party!” And then comes the morning after.
Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished, but they took offense at him because he was one of them. And Jesus did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.
So is that train track made for me or am I made for the train track? Jesus helps me follow a higher path, right? My tasks are never the point. The kids are always the point. Of course they could have been more careful with our creation. Oh, yeah? At what age? At age 4 and 2 … NOT.
It’s tougher on Andi and Aki to keep their cool, since they wake up to the destruction. But I think they’ve kind of figured it out. Their collective calm blesses Miles and Jasper day after day.
I, the Lord, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.
Margaret finished her eight weeks of intravenous injections of antibiotics yesterday. Today her PIC line should be removed, and her right arm can relax after so so long. God’s in charge of that celebration, too. She’s tired of medicine, and the medicine makes her more tired. But her heart beats strong and true, and so this tired is temporary. It won’t be long before it will be safe for her to pick up Jasper again, hold him close while he gets sleepy and still, and make an afternoon nap together in Margaret’s “tent of meeting,” waiting for God’s radiance to descend.
This grandparent gig never gets old.
(Leviticus 23, Psalm 81, 1 Peter 1, Matthew 13)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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