The Gate

Seven years ago, we had two family weddings.
One of our daughters was married on a beautiful June day.
Two weeks later, one of our sons was married at the very beginning of July.
It was wonderfully busy that year, with much celebration and rejoicing.

This past year, we had our grandchildren on those anniversary weekends.
We had our daughter’s three children first.
She and our son-in-love had a “stay-cation” since they are expecting their fourth child this fall.
They wanted to begin to get the room ready for their son who will be moving into a bed soon.

Two weeks later, we had our granddaughters.
Our son and daughter-in-love planned a weekend together.
We love to have our grandchildren here because that one-on-one time is so precious.
We love to send the couple on their way, telling them to enjoy just being themselves for a while.

Favorite toys are brought up from the basement shelves and toy closet.
Favorite activities are kept nearby.
Favorite books from Grandma’s library are chosen.
Favorite food is made and baked for their little tummies to enjoy.

My husband always brings down the gates for the younger ones.
Since we have front and back stairs, we have two areas that we safety-proof.
It wasn’t until the first set of grandchildren went home, that I saw the picture.
It was of our little grandson standing at the bottom of our main staircase.

The gate was in place.
His sisters were upstairs playing in the big girl room.
He wanted, so badly, to join them.
But the gate, that horrid gate, was in the way.

I look at his little face in that picture and smile.
There is something bittersweet in his expression.
He loves to climb.
Oh, how he loves to climb!

He is quite safe climbing up and down stairs, but with two staircases, we are extra cautious.
Sometimes, his sisters need their time together.
Distractions from Pop-Pop and Grandma are in order.
He soon realizes that there are fun things to do downstairs, too.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:21-24)

After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves.
Anything we try to do on our own to cover our sin is inadequate.
God, in His grace, killed an animal and used the skins to cover Adam and Eve.
Blood was shed and a covering was provided.

God placed cherubim east of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword flashing back and forth.
What grace!
The way to the tree of life was guarded, since the man and the woman had sinned.
Had they reached the tree of life, they would have lived forever in their sin.

I wonder if Adam and Eve looked much like my grandson when he was in front of the gate?
He did nothing wrong, but the gate was there simply to keep him safe.
Adam and Eve sinned and the flaming, flashing sword kept them from living forever in their sin.
Grace upon grace.

What a loving, gracious Heavenly Father.
He covers us, not with an animal’s blood that can never save, but with the blood of His Son.
Jesus’ once and for all perfect sacrifice, with a covering of His blood that saves.
The way is now open!

Amen!

2 responses to “The Gate”

1. Oh, Gina how precious is our time with our grands. Ours are beginning to enter their teen years and we cherish each moment spent with them. Thanks for sharing. Nancy

   Reply

   • Nancy,
     It is indeed a privilege to be part of the lives of our grandchildren. They bless us as much as we hope to bless them.
     Gina

     Reply