Blast Off Hug

It was another grandchild weekend.
My son and two of my granddaughters came for a long weekend.
My daughter-in-love was away with her cousins for the weekend.
My house looked as it did when my children were young.

“Grandma’s toys” were all over the floor.
It doesn’t matter that their own Daddy played with these same toys.
To them, they are Grandma’s toys and that’s all that matters.
I like seeing the toys get new life.

We had a dinner for many of the family who were able to come.
Two lasagnas, homemade bread, and a big salad was served along with sweet fellowship.
All the cousins (all six grandchildren) were here and played to their heart’s content.
Their squeals and laughter, their sounds of life, filled the air.

My two granddaughters who were staying here have a special bedtime ritual.
I don’t remember how it started.
It began by simply saying good night to Pop-Pop before they went up to bed.
Somehow, simply saying goodnight became something much more elaborate.

They used to stand across the room and run into their Pop-Pop’s arms.
He laughed and they laughed.
Again, the youngest one said.
They would go back to their starting point and do it again.

Usually, after two such hugs, a one more time, directive was given.
They always made that hug last a bit longer.
It was something they only did with Pop-Pop.
Since I was the one putting them to bed, our goodnight hugs happened upstairs.

After a while, the across the room hug, became from the next room hug.
They would announce that they were giving a Pop-Pop hug.
They would go into the kitchen and run into his arms.
There was so much love in their hugs, and so much speed in their little legs.

This past weekend, the hugs changed again.
This weekend, the hug was given a new name.
Ready for a blast off hug, Pop-Pop? the older one asked.
A blast off hug? My husband repeated wondering what it would entail.

The two of them ran into the kitchen and then into the laundry room.
They got to the farthest point and considered that their starting line.
Ready, Pop-Pop? They called from what seemed to be miles away.
I was in the kitchen and got a bird’s eye view.

Ready. Set. Go. I said.
They were off, one at a time.
Laughing and squealing as they went, they ran as fast as they could.
Past the long farm table, past Grandma’s chair, around the coffee table, and into his arms.
The blast off hug was born.

I peeked in to see each little girl wrapped in their Pop-Pop’s arms.
What a sweet way to say goodnight before they went upstairs to bed.
They were safe in their Pop-Pop’s arms and they knew it.
It gave them comfort.

When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
(Luke 15:17-24)

Most of us know the story of the prodigal son.
Have we really thought about it?
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son.

This was a blast off hug if ever there was one.
The father was watching for his wayward son to come home.
What could have ended in shame and anger, was handled with love and compassion.
A dignified man, who would never have run in public, ran to his son in love.

Just like our Heavenly Father.
He loves us; He really does.
He wants us to come Home to Him.
Ready. Set. Go.