One of the things I enjoyed so much about Thanksgiving yesterday was great-grands. I was thankful that not a one of them looked like me. Two have my Dad's eyes -- blue most of the time, reflecting the sky. Yet a touch of gray when the skies are cloudy, or their own temperaments are cloudy.
I've mentioned before that the oldest, a fourth grader, has the most beautiful smile. Not just his mouth, but his whole face lights up. I pray the girl on the receiving end of that smile returns one to him with the same good humor.
The next youngest lives in a world of his own making. Without that ready smile, the ones he gives are earned. The best come as he understands. Playing a new game, hearing a new story, learning so intently, then that flash as understanding comes. I'll bet a good school teacher appreciates those flashes! He was so proud, as were we all, of the medal he won for his sport this year.
Just a bit younger, the third son enjoys his brothers in play and looks up to them as his examples. It's interesting to watch as he looks to them for learning, then applies what he's learned on his own. It is as though he respects them, but doesn't necessarily follow them. And, when there's need for correction, he'll face either one of them for what is rightfully his.
But there were no fights. Now when we were kids, there might be some shoving, or escalation -- not for these four. If something was taken from them, they confronted the person, stated their case and if it wasn't corrected, went to a parent and restated the case. Not as tattling nor whining, as one might expect, but as expecting fair judgment. That earned respect for their parents' skills, too.
The youngest? A girl. Curly haired, blonde and blue-eyed, she reflects a lot of both parents. Her brothers look out for her, but they also teach her. She's open and loving, coming to this old granny when there were three others in the room ready and willing with open arms.
Yes -- she had her own grandmother, two great-grandmothers and a great-aunt who has a grandchild of her own that (sadly) could not be there for Thanksgiving. Generations of love and kindness and a sense of God-given family.
And which verses come to mind?
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4 KJV)
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