Grandparenting 101.

You know the typical story of the excited grandparent that buys their 5-month-old grandchild a full-size baseball glove?

Yeah, that’s us.  We are now decidedly in that category.

Bob recently had a delightful conversation with our eldest granddaughter, soon to turn the ripe old age of four.  Her mom is just so amazingly great about taking her to museums and using so many available resources for their Precious One’s brain development!  And, since Grandpa teaches biology at our local college, naturally a little course on “cells” has been on the educational menu of late.

Precious One has decided that microscopes are all the rage right now.  So, in an effort to take advantage of this current (and momentary) interest, I thought it prudent to send her a toy representation.  Of course, the one I picked out was W-A-Y too juvenile…according to the Professor. 

I capitulated to his expertise but nonetheless called Mother to warn her of our exuberant folly, and to please unpack the gift alone to check for appropriateness.  After all, the prepared slides are made of glass, the exploratory tools include a scalpel, and there are multiple moveable parts.

Regardless, they were thrilled when it arrived, and Bob and Precious One had so much fun talking “science” together. 

My, how they grow up!  That is, both Precious One and Grandpa.

Because it was just recently that both of them were having some not unexpected discomfort navigating the Turbulent Two’s together.  If you’re a parent, this needs no explanation.  And if ever there were a practical argument for the fall of mankind, just put the doubter in a room with a dozen or so two-year-olds…alone.  For five minutes. 

This side of eternity, it’s just part of the learning curve.  (Including for the adults who love them!)

The maturing personality is an interesting thing.  The maturing Christian is likewise.  Early on, we tend to push God away, wanting what we want when we want it.  Not particularly interested in what He wants for us.  (Any parent with a picky eater gets this also.)  Sure, we’ll run to Father when we fall down and get a spiritual boo-boo, or if we think there are monsters under the bed.  Other than that…

As we grow, our good Father begins to find points of connection with us, His children, capitalizing on what’s in our hearts right now.  He’s willing to start there, at my level, and explore more a little at a time, under His watchful eye.  When I see how much joy this short encounter with Precious One brought Bob, I can’t help but think how God enjoys it when we share our interests with Him.

It also makes me think of my past (present?) selfishness with Him, how frustrating that must be and how patient He is waiting for me to grow up some more.  I want my being-with-Him to be more gratifying—for Him!

But of this I am confident, that regardless of where I am on the growth curve, I am still His Precious One.  As He has said—

“Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.”

Zechariah 2:8 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.