Daniel Purposed

“Daniel” by Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

Sunday night I had our three oldest great-grandsons spend the night, for the very first time. Twelve, nine and eight, they contain more energy individually than Beloved Husband and I put together, no doubt about it.

They’ve recently moved geographically closer to us, but we’re even closer to the church than their new home – and Second Daughter is accompanying the group going to Youth Camp, so they spent the night here.  Monday the oldest, GGS-1, will head off with the Youth, while GGS-2 and GGS-3 will head out with another group to Children’s Camp.  Grade level determines the difference. GGS-1 will be in the Seventh this year, hence the split.

We have a full sized bed in the guest room and a trundle in the loft, so there had to be a game of rock, paper, scissors to determine who got to choose the trundle.  It’s so easy to say, “The Eldest,” but so very unfair.  Also unfair is “I chose first,” because the others didn’t know the choices when he did.  I was pleasantly amazed at their acceptance of the results.

Even more pleasant surprises awaited as two out of three reached for their Bibles for an evening reading.  They asked me to select verses, but I asked if they had a favorite.  Though I had something in mind, there was another in GGS-1’s mind – Daniel.  Our last two Sunday School lessons in Youth had been on Daniel, so we read and discussed the first eight verses.  The boys ended up highlighting the first part of verse eight:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

We talked about Daniel being taken into captivity, away from his family, his culture, his country.  We talked about the kings meat, thinking of reasons why Daniel would not eat it, the dietary laws of God’s commandments, how the animal was killed, was it sacrificed in a religious ceremony.  We talked about how none of that would be important today, so what was the application for us?

Then we discussed how people defile themselves today. The first thing they mentioned was smoking.  The second thing said was beer. The third surprised me as GGS-3 said, “Taking candy from a stranger,” then seriously explained that instead of taking the candy, one should say, “No,” and walk away.  The older boys agreed that saying, “No,” to all three situations was the right answer.

Thinking of their father, a non-church goer until now, a smoker and occasional beer drinker, I asked, “Is it our place to make people change?”  Oh, how I loved their answer as all three said, “No.”

Then what do we do?  Again the answers were in agreement.  “We don’t do those things.”

Thus we discussed how to purpose in our hearts to not defile ourselves.  How do we learn?  Yep, their answers matched mine again, through the Bible.

We prayed together before heading off to bed and I gave thanks for them and their eagerness to learn.  I prayed the camps would be safe, they would make new friends and have a wonderful time.

Did they quickly and quietly go to sleep?  No, there were some pounding feet, flashing lights and lots of giggles.  Aren’t those wonderful blessings?