Jul
2
2024
The Party Favor
Posted in Worship 4 Comments
It was a small party favor.
It could be found at any party store.
Nothing fancy, but to a five-year-old, it was simply wonderful.
At least that’s the way it seemed.
My son, daughter-in-love, and two granddaughters were coming for an overnight visit.
Dinner was ready upon their arrival.
They would be coming after my son’s work day was over.
I knew they would come to the back kitchen door, as they always do.
I used to have a sign many years ago that simply said: Backdoor friends are best.
You have to be family or a special friend to come to the back door.
I leave it unlocked when I know family is coming.
They walk right in and feel at home.
This day, it was my five-year-old granddaughter who reached the door first.
The door is harder for the younger ones to push open.
However, this granddaughter has mastered the door.
She knows just the right amount of force to push the door open successfully.
She came inside with her contagious smile.
She was waving something in her hand.
I’m here, Grandma. I’m here, she said excitedly.
She announced herself with enthusiasm, as I heard a clicking sound.
In her hand she held a small plastic hand.
In reality, the small hand was really three plastic hands rubber-banded together.
As she waved her hand, the small set of hands clapped.
She was announcing and applauding her arrival.
Simply perfect.
I couldn’t imagine a better way for her to come inside.
Every wave of her hand made the little plastic hands clap.
I loved the sound and the sheer joy that she had as she came into the kitchen.
She laid the little hands on my desk in the kitchen.
She went off to play with Grandma’s toys.
Her two-year-old sister came in with her cute smile.
She immediately grabbed my knees and hugged me as I bent down to envelop her in my arms.
What if we all entered a house or a room the way my granddaughter did?
It’s me! I’m here!
Aren’t you glad to see me?
Isn’t it good that I’m here?
In reality, we all should have a welcome like that, festive and jubilant.
We all should expect that we will be welcomed with enveloping hugs.
We all should receive a warm, I’m so glad you’re here, greeting.
It should be the norm, not the exception.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity. (Psalm 98)
One day, Jesus will come back.
There will be rejoicing at the sound of His voice.
There will be such joy that the wait is finally over.
Even the rivers will clap their hands.
One day…
Until then, we wait and we make Him known.
We love each other with abounding joy.
We hug each other and enjoy each other’s company.
We love each other because He first loved us.
It’s me! I’m here!
Aren’t you glad to see me?
Isn’t it good that I’m here?
Yes!
Lord Jesus, until that day, help us love each other well.
My granddaughter left her little plastic hands here.
I will give them to her soon.
In the meantime, I may do a little waving and clapping.
The world needs that kind of abounding joy.
Gina Frank and I still enjoy your Tuesday ‘Whispers’. There is no better example of the joy that
Jesus wants us to show then that of a child. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, Nancy, I am so delighted that you and Frank are blessed every Tuesday when you read a new Whisper. I learn much from my grandchildren as I have learned from my own children when they were young. God is good.
Gina
I love this! A beautiful reminder that we can learn so much from young children. Gina, you have a beautiful gift to see God’s lessons for how to walk in this world in something as simple as a dollar store toy. Thank you for sharing your gift with the rest of us.
Stephanie, thank you for your sweet encouragement. I learn so much from these precious grandchildren God has given us. There is such honesty and vulnerability in the way they approach the world. No wonder Jesus tells us to become like little children. I am so glad your were blessed by this Whisper.
Gina