Friday, December 6, 2013

Dear God,

What gifts you give to us through grandchildren.  You allow their little spirits to connect with ours so we may build a life together.  You open doors to love as we share our lives in play, prayer, worship, crafts, laughter, the telling of silly stories over and over again, sleepovers in our sleeping bags, and a variety of other activities that etch memories in our minds for a lifetime.  Thank you for the way you use the relationship of grandchildren and grandparents to also help build and rebuild lives with our children.  Thank you for joy that comes out of spending quality time together.

This is the weekend my grandchildren come for the whole weekend.  We not only have our usual sleeping bag sleepover each night but we watch Christmas movies with Christmas lights on.  We always have a candlelight morning breakfast.  We have floor picnics for lunch or dinner.  We make Christmas crafts and/or cookies.  We attend Christmas programs and/or concerts.  We do one mission project this time taking our giving jars to Gleaners to help feed the hungry and listen to ways we can come back as volunteers when our youngest grandchild turns nine.  We pray, each one taking a time to offer up a holy word to you.  We attend Advent worship services and eat at their favorite restaurant, Bob Evans.  This time we rehearsed our devotion for Christmas afternoon when my whole family returns as together we will surprise the parents and share the story through scripture, drama, and music.  There are many little surprises just like you give to us every day.

My heart is full when I think of the gift you have given me through my grandchildren.

Bless the
little ones
and the
bigger ones
with hope,
joy, peace,
and faith,
I pray,
dear Lord.
Thank you
for the way
in which
they see
the world
and then
share it
with me.
I am
so very blessed.

Love, Andrea