Can You Fix It?

It was a sleepover at Grandma’s house this past weekend.
We had three of our grandchildren here, Friday afternoon until Saturday after dinner.
Favorite toys were set up in the family room.
The gates were placed near the front stairs for our one-year-old grandson who loves to climb.

Our two granddaughters, his sisters, love to ring the doorbell when they arrive.
It doesn’t matter that the garage is open for the entire family to come inside.
They like to ring the doorbell because they like to surprise me that they are here.
Of course, an Academy Award performance on my part is in order.

There are hugs all around.
They go to the back stairs and put their shoes on a step.
They hang their jackets on the shaker peg rack my husband hung for our grandchildren.
They run back into the family room and begin to play with their favorite toys.

Having four granddaughters and one grandson, the toys weigh heavily on the girl side.
Princesses and dress up are high on the list.
Then, of course, there are puzzles, and coloring, and reading books together.
There is playing in the upstairs toy kitchen that belonged to my children.

On this day, the Cinderella set seemed to be the favorite.
My youngest daughter got that set when we went to Disney World many years ago.
Our children were each allowed to buy one thing to remember our time there.
When our youngest daughter saw that set, she knew that was her choice.

It came with Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, Gus and Jaq, Bruno the dog, and Lucifer, the cat.
It also came with Prince Charming.
It’s funny to watch the Prince get put aside until that precise moment when they dance.
He gets put aside until that precise moment when Cinderella loses her glass slipper.

We had just finished dinner and the girls went off to play.
Soon, our oldest granddaughter came back into the kitchen with something in her hand.
It was Prince Charming with only one leg.
The leg that had broken off was in her hand.

We never heard the story as to how the Prince’s leg was broken.
The set is a about twenty-three years old, so that may be the reason.
The set gets played with all the time now that little girls are back in the house.
The “how it happened” didn’t matter; Can you fix it, Pop-Pop? she asked.

My husband looked at Prince Charming with his engineer eyes.
He turned him this way and that with the skills I see when he is in his workshop.
Pop-Pop can fix it, but not tonight, he told her.
OK, Pop-Pop, she said as she ran off to continue to play.

There Prince Charming lay with two arms and one leg attached to his body.
His broken leg was turning the opposite direction.
My husband was still studying the toy.
I think I can put a dowel in his leg…his voice trailed off.

I smiled at the man who would take the time to fix the leg of a broken toy with precision.
I came downstairs the next morning and saw the broken Prince waiting for his repair.
The day was busy with imaginative games and other toys with which to play.
Prince Charming was not asked about, though I knew my husband had not forgotten.

Our grandchildren went home and Sunday morning dawned and we went to church.
As I sat having my tea later in the day, my husband went down to his workshop.
I know there is a woodworking project he wants to begin but I didn’t hear any equipment.
He came upstairs and put something on the counter.

It was Prince Charming standing on two solid legs.
I smiled at the sweetness of his gesture
That leg is not going anywhere!
It is probably more sturdy than when we first got it so many years ago.

God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!
(Jeremiah 17:14, The Message)

We come to God the Father, broken and bruised.
He is the Master Craftsman.
Only He can pick up all our broken pieces and put us back together again.
He puts us back together again better than before.

My husband’s repair of Prince Charming was a metaphor of what God does every day.
All God wants is for us to bring our broken pieces to Him.
He will hold us and care for us with tender precision and great love.
We will stand on two strong legs, set firmly on the Rock that is Christ.

Amen and Amen!

2 responses to “Can You Fix It?”

1. Gina we love your grandchildren stories! Thank you.
   Frank and Nancy

   Reply

   • Oh, Nancy! I am so glad you love them because I love to tell them.
     Blessings,
     Gina

     Reply