My granddaughter and I were discussing the fact that her teeth will be falling out in the next year or two. She asked me what she should do with teeth that fall out. My response was to give them to her mother. Then every time she could show me where a tooth used to be, I would give her one dollar.
Rachel wanted to know why I would give her money for her teeth falling out. Well, that's a good question. Why do we?
It must be because of the tooth fairy. That fictional pixie flying around the world night after night collecting teeth and leaving money in their place. The more I think about that tradition, the more ludicrous it becomes.
The conversation with Rachel was concluded with me telling her she could have the money because we would celebrate growing up. She could have the money to save to purchase a large item in the future.
My own children never had a tooth fairy. Ray and I just gave the girls a quarter for their teeth when they "turned them in." Rates have gone up in 30 years.
We never had Santa. Or the Easter Bunny. Or any other character which was based on lying to our kids.
One year a child came home from school and said the other kids were getting presents from Santa. Why didn't we? So that Christmas we had a place in the living room for presents from Santa. We had another area where presents would be from the people who love us. The girls were all excited the next morning to see what Santa had left. There was nothing there. But the pile from the people who loved them??? Huge.
We talked about Santa. We went to see him at the mall, but the kids understood it was all pretend. It was just a fun thing that went along with the holiday. They have heard the real story of Saint Nicolas. They understood where it all originated.
My youngest daughter's kindergarten teacher called me one day and said Sara had just told the entire class there was no such thing as Santa. My response was simple. "There isn't." The teacher was quiet for a moment. Maybe she didn't know and now I spoiled it for her.
We did the same for the Easter bunny. And the tooth fairy. They aren't real. We never pretended they were. We do the same with our grandkids.
Why?
Because you can't see them. You can't see the Easter Bunny. Or the tooth fairy. Or the "real" Santa. Or Jesus. Or the Holy Spirit. What if I had lied about the "make believe" and then expected them to believe about Jesus. If I had lied about the first three, maybe Jesus was a lie as well.
We didn't want to open that door when raising our kids.
But that's just us. You do what you think is right for your family.
I'm excited about Sunday. There are lots of reasons. And yes, I'm going to tell you what they are:
1) I get to see the grandkids; if you have read these blurbs before, you probably knew that was a given. I won't bore you with more incessant ramblings about my amazing, beautiful and talented grandkids.
2) Sunday is going to be a very unusual and wonderful day in church. We are doing some things we have never done before.
a) a choir;
b) a drama presentation
c) and worship dance which we actually have done before, but we have new people involved this year, so it counts as something new.
3) I am the child care worker this week because a lot of our other child care workers are in the above-mentioned activities and cannot work this Sunday.
I have to admit that I wasn't really happy about being child care and missing everything else, but I believe God has been working on my heart about this. I'm not really a kid-person (except, of course, for aforementioned perfect grandchildren.) Little children who don't sit still and listen drive me just the slightest bit nuts.
Ok, all that aside... tomorrow is my day with the kids.
What an opportunity.
I get to share Jesus with little children who might not always get to hear the name of Jesus in an uplifting way. I get to tell them the account of Jesus' death and, more important, his resurrection. I get to talk about the empty tomb with children who might not have heard this before.
Why so excited? Isn't this the opportunity every week? Yes. And No. Tomorrow we will have kids in church who might not come on any other day of the year.
And that is something to be excited about.
I just remembered.... I need an empty tomb for tomorrow.... I hope Ray didn't recycle that empty tissue box.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
The other day I was reading to my granddaughter from her Veggie Tales Bible Story Book. At the end of the story there is always a verse that sums up the day's story. I was reading one of the verses to her and before I finished, she accurately repeated the remaining words in the verse.
I asked her how she knew that verse. Rachel shrugged and said "I just knowed it."
I commended her on the ability she certainly must have to just know things, however it is she obtains her information. She smiled.
Now I'm not going to believe that a child just "knowed" the Bible even if she is one of the smartest children ever to walk the earth. I'm sure she either heard that verse in a song or had it read to her in Kids Church or another Bible story... somewhere.
Here is what is important in this blurb: Rachel had tucked away that verse. She heard it at one time. And she remembered it.
I'm not touting the skills of Rachel. I'm stating how important it is to instill the word of God in the hearts and minds of our children and grandchildren.
The Bible tells us to raise up a child in the way she should go and when she's older, she won't depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Who knows what Bible verses will be hidden within the hearts and minds of our kids if we will take the time to read to them. Give them Bible story books. Music that is uplifting to their minds and their spirits.
We give them books about witchcraft and sorcery and allow our teens to read books of the undead because, hey, it's a love story. And we ignore reinforcing the Word of God in the lives of our children.
But I'm thinking the things they have been reading aren't going to help them move forward in life. It will not be information they can cling to when life gets tough. Or when they need solace.
Wouldn't it be great if some day when your kids are the age you are now they were able to grasp onto the Words of Life they learned as a child because someone took the time to instill it in their spirits. And they won't know where or when they "knowed" it, as long as they "knowed" it.
My granddaughter is learning to read. She sounds out words. She's learning to memorize words that are difficult to sound out, but happen regularly like "the" ("t" "ha" "eeee" sure doesn't sound like "the," but it is.)
I happily sit next to her on the sofa and listen to her read her "early reader" books. She's so proud of herself when she finishes a page. All six words. She is starting to get it.
But what happened to my baby girl? She would rather read than have a tea party now. And I really enjoy tea parties.
Each age brings its own delights. I remember when my girls were little. I sooo enjoyed the cuddling stage of baby-dom. But it sure was nice when I could say "get your coats on so we can go." And it was a big day when they could fasten their own seat belts. Or use the bathroom without help.
Time marches on. Kids grow up. But do they have to grow up so fast?
I want Rachel to grow up. To be a big girl. I'm kind of wondering when she will lose her first tooth. I will always be proud of her accomplishments. I am looking forward to school Christmas programs and concerts. I will be the one in the audience with the camera snapping away wildly.
I don't want her to lose her child-like ways. She's so precious to me and I love her sense of wonder when she learns something new. She likes learning new facts.
I know why Jesus' favorites were kids. He loved them when He walked on earth and He loves them still. They're so special to Him. Jesus always made time for children.
As Rachel grows up it's my job as well as her parents and other grandparents to share Jesus and His love to her. Always. Continually.
I never want her to lose sight of the fact that Jesus loves her. Even when she is no longer a child. I don't want her to lose her sense of wonder at the things God has to offer her. Or the fact that she is never able to do anything that would put her outside of His ability to love her.
I have to brag on her a little more. One Sunday in Kids Church one of the teachers asked if there was anything God couldn't do. Rachel raised her hand and responded in a matter-of-fact way "He can never stop loving us."
I think she gets it.
Matthew 19:14 "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But I don't know of anyone who had a child, raised it, and ultimately had ... a giant child.
Think about that for a moment before you read on. (Do not insert any sentences here that begin with "But my husband sometimes acts like..." I know he does. It's one of the things you love about him. Usually.)
As parents, we're not raising children, we're raising children to become adults. So, in effect, we're raising adults.
It's easy to lose sight of the big picture when we're caught up in the here and now of child rearing. Sometimes we have days where the only future we're looking forward to is... bedtime; those are usually on days they have had too much sugar or are very excited about something. This is often in direct connection to Grandma's house. But still...
We tend to forget that the young life entrusted to us is going to some day be a person out in the world on her own. Ultimately, this young person is going to be a reflection on you. On your ideals. Your goals. Your training. (Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turnt from it.)
Well, if that isn't enough to make you want to have only one child... and yet we had four. Four of the most beautiful, lovely young women you would ever want to meet. Talented. Gifted. And all out of the proverbial nest.
As I look at my daughters, as I frequently do, I see four young women who are each traveling their own journey. No two are alike. They don't dress alike or talk alike. No two chose the same career path. And yet all four have amazing similarities. They all are totally dependent on God and His leading for their lives. They all know that whether or not God answers their prayers the way they want Him to, He is still answering their prayers.
I try not to say "I would...." when it comes to their lives. I had my chance. And I made mistakes. Lots of them. It's tempting to tell them what to do in certain situations and sometimes I really have to bite my tongue to keep from sharing what all these years of learning experiences have taught me. Then sometimes I can't help myself and .... there it is. "You should do...."
They have to make their own path. Make their own mistakes. Celebrate their own victories. Now I will stand by either praying for them or cheering with them. Because my years of raising adults are over. My days of having four wonderful, loving and beautiful friends is here.
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