We headed over to Peddlers Village in PA today. Spent the day at Giggleberry Fair, a Chuck E. Cheese type play place for kids of all ages. The boys had a blast. We were there for six hours and they stayed active the whole time (except for a lunch break). They even got along most of the time. Amazing.
I spent most of the six hours sitting in a booth in the food area. I alternated between resting my leg on the booth cushion and putting it beneath the table. The switch was predicated on the soreness of my back end. Oh, to have a little more cushioning back there. Unfortunately extra cushioning is not a male trait in my family.
While sitting, I journaled, reflected, studied, scanned back through Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, did some calendar planning, and enjoyed watching my kids enjoy themselves.
It’s amazing how watching your kids laugh and smile and tell stories of their adventures brings such joy to a father. I brought them to this place for their joy, not my own. Indeed, I had to fork over a good amount of money for their joy! But as a father, I love to see my children smile…especially when they express their appreciation and share their joy with me. They enjoyed themselves and they were grateful. They didn’t take the opportunity for granted. They didn’t see it as an entitlement. They didn’t complain. And I smiled too.
The other thing that was awesome to watch was their care for their younger brother. Often they see him as a nuisance, as a third wheel, as a hindrance to their own fun. But for some reason (something was in the air?), they were especially nice to him today. They stuck by him and involved him in their fun. Believe me, this is a rare occurrence…but oh, a wonderful thing to see.
I wonder, again, if my injury has raised the bar for them. They realize that I can’t help and that my wife has a lot on her plate right now, so they are rising to the challenge. I make sure to encourage them in this…and praise them for it. “Go the extra mile, boys, and you will make your dad and your mom smile.” For some reason, today they heeded this advice.
I can’t help but reflect this to my relationship with God. He loves to see me smile. He loves to see me revel in the gifts of life and share that joy with Him, in gratitude, in praise.
On the other hand, He is grieved when I complain, think I deserve more, overlook my blessings, see life as an entitlement, and see my brothers and sisters in Christ as a nuisance to shed as quickly as possible.
For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy i nthe Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may build up another. (Romans 14:17-19)
