Each year we try
and arrange a week to have our three New York “north country” grandchildren
visit us for an extended stay. Because they live six-and-a-half hours away by
car, our visits with them are limited. So we look at these days as a strategic
time for us to get to know them and for them to get to know us. What we learn
about a person in a short burst of time is but a mere sketch of the person. It
takes time to develop a portrait that more fully reflects an individual. One
thing that my wife and I feel is important is to use this time to allow our
grandchildren to know something about our faith as it is lived out in deeds as
well as declarations. It is one thing to talk on the phone and hear about our
faith. It is quite another thing to see how that faith works in day to day
activities spanning the mundane to the significant. We take seriously the words
of the Psalmist, “One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall
declare your mighty acts” (145:4).
The
grandchildren refer to this time as “Grandparents Camp.” Their agenda is, I am
sure, far different than ours. Our middle granddaughter summarized her view of
the days saying, “This is time for you to spoil us.” This being interpreted
means, special treats, lots of attention, and a good measure of leniency. Needless
to say, grandchildren are “grandparent wise!” Her summary is probably not far
from reality even if we try and strongly deny it! So the days before the “camp”
the kitchen is filled with the aroma of baked cookies and other special treats.
A trip is made to the store to purchase favorite cereal – three different
kinds, to meet the expectations of three different sets of discriminating taste
buds. There is a foray into the craft store which yields a project to occupy
busy hands and to assure that there will be a creative creation to take home at
the end of the time as a reminder of their visit. Connected to all of this is
an intense investigation into potential day trips to expose three inquisitive
minds to the wonders of “grandparent-land” in greater Lancaster County and
surrounding regions.
This year the schedule that worked
best for our families was during the Fall Fair season. My Lancaster County wife
was ecstatic as she saw this as a wonderful opportunity to expose her
grandchildren to her childhood highlight – the Lancaster County fairs. My wife
loves the animals, the vendors with their free stuff, the craft displays, and
the farm and country atmosphere. However, when speaking of the fair a special
smile appears on her face as she speak of “fair food” – nothing better in her
mind than “fair fries.” After the second fair, it became obvious to me that her
fair-fries-gene had been successfully passed on to the three grandkids from the
“north country.”
There was another thing that was
important for us to pass along to those three youngsters at “Grandparent Camp.”
We wanted them to know they were not only loved by us, but also deeply loved by
God. Now this is not a new message to them. Their parents have been faithfully teaching
them about God’s love as seen in Christ’s sacrifice for them on the cross (John
3:16). However, it is good for them to hear that same truth coming out of the
lips of someone else that they know and love. In the evenings after a long day
of adventure, laughter, and of course delicious treats, we slowed down with
some games, reading books they chose, and then made time for talking. It was in
those talks we revealed the “mighty acts” of God we had seen in our lives. The
time was not a formal class of instruction. It was the type of teaching
described in Deuteronomy done “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the
way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (6:7). It is wonderful to be able
to tell three little people that you deeply love that there is someone else you
deeply love and his name is Jesus.
Grandparent Camp is not just a time
where grandkids learn lessons. It is also a time when grandparents learn
lessons. There were two lessons that stood out to me as I watched those three
youngsters during their extended stay. First, when removed from your normal
place and pace of life, enjoy where you are. Their world in upstate New York is
rural. They live on a farm and have vast areas where they can play. With us
they were in a retirement community in an area that to them would be congested
with people. They did not spend their time whining about the differences, but
enjoyed the new opportunities where they found themselves. How often do I miss
the joy and adventure of where I am because I am too busy comparing where I am
with where I was?
Second, when faced with an
opportunity, I need to embrace the opportunity by faith. This is something that
Jesus taught when he said, “Whosoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will by no means enter it” (Mark 10:15). My grandchildren had no
idea where our daily adventure was going to take them. They simply got in the
car with us, and trusted that we had their best interests at heart. How often
do I overthink opportunities and think about the drawbacks and dangers that
might be attached to an event rather than consider that this may be a wonderful
opportunity to experience and learn new things? Am I willing to join in the
journey God has for me believing that He has my best interests at heart?
Grandparent camp has ended for
another year. Will there be one next year? I have no idea. However, I will
assure you, this was a worthwhile time. Memories I trust were created. Lessons
perhaps were planted. But most of all love was expressed. Put all the elements
of Grandparents Camp together and then borrowing the words of Master Card,
“Priceless!”
