Babysitting, Old and Young

Two big events this past week added to my already exhausted body. But I wouldn't have missed them for the world.

Vacation Bible School with my two granddaughters was wonderful. Watching them do the motions and singing the celebration songs, learning about how to trust God through the story of Moses, seeing their eyes light up with a new craft each night. These were priceless moments I was privileged to share with them.

Then yesterday was Jenna's big 6-year-old birthday bash. The kids went swimming in their apartment complex pool, enjoyed a bouncy house, and of course, the traditional ice cream and cake. I loved every minute of it. And so did Dean. Although I was beginning to worry about his third helpings on the eats, and how many times we had to refill his soda and chips.

But we made it through the week. I have made up for lost time with more sleep this weekend. Bracing up for another week of babysitting my three charges (I include Dean in the count.)

Babysitting for the young and the old certainly has its challenges, but it has also taught me about the human condition. When I am weak, He makes me strong. Some days I'm weak on patience, but strong on perseverance. Then sometimes I stumble with my physical ailments, but He gives me strength to get through it. I'm constantly reminded of my humanity, but also of my need for divinity to step in. Thank you, God, for getting me through one more week.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." II Corinthians 12:10

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

You know you're a grandma when you are just as worn out attending VBS as the workers who are hosting it. This has been an exhausting week to me, after taking my granddaughters to Vacation Bible School the past few nights, but I wouldn't have traded it for the whole world. It's a memory I'm sure they will cherish too.

My sincere thanks go out to the volunteers for their hard efforts in all the areas of Vacation Bible School. To the tribal leaders (teachers), recreation leaders, drama and music presenters, craft directors, and those who helped prepare and serve the snacks. There was a lot of hard work before and after the events, most of it unobserved, but none the less appreciated.

It was a mission project on our own soil. So vital for the growth and maintenance of our church family. You have all earned jewels in your heavenly crowns this week.

And here's one of the ladies who made it happen!

Thanks, Charlene!!!

Copycat

Julia (age 2), my second granddaughter, went to Vacation Bible School tonight, along with her sister Jenna. After scoping out the program the last two nights with Jenna, I determined that Julia would have no problem fitting in with the young girls in Jenna's "tribe" (class). And sure enough, she was young enough that the older girls loved taking her by the hand and showing her "the ropes" of Vacation Bible School.

As their tribe sat on the floor and listened to a story and talked about the lesson, it tickled me that whenever anyone raised their hand to answer the teacher, Julia would raise BOTH her arms too. This puzzled me a bit, but maybe she just wasn't sure which hand to raise, so she did both. She's become quite a copycat around her big sister, and she was using all her copycat skills to fit in tonight.

Thinking back on her attempts to imitate her classmates makes me want to be more attuned to following the example of Jesus in my own life. Am I so anxious to copy Him that I will use BOTH my arms or legs, or whatever part of me He needs, to follow where He leads? I hope so.

Julia with King Nebuchadnezzar

Vacation Bible School

I loved taking my granddaughter to Vacation Bible School tonight. She's just turning four this month, and it brought back so many memories of my daughter attending VBS in years past. She attended very young, because I always volunteered to help or teach a class. But her first Vacation Bible School that she attended by herself was in a very small town we lived in, called Roberts, Idaho.

It was hosted by a little non-denominational church there and I'll never forget how one of the adults came to me when I picked her up and said that she was the first one out of her seat to come to the front when they made a call for who wanted to be saved. It was a treasured memory I have kept all these years. My daughter's first public testimony of her faith. She had been through a lot in her short five years. And she didn't hesitate to answer God's call to be saved. I'd like to think that my training had laid some groundwork for the event.

We underestimate the power of God's working on very young souls. Parents should never miss an opportunity to bring their children to Jesus, both at home during family worships and at church. You never know when the message will hit home and cause them to connect with their Lord and Savior. The kind of connection that will sustain them for their whole lifetime.