Road Trips, Chocolate, and Jesus
The Lord’s prayer. David and Goliath. Queen Esther. Baby Moses among the reeds of the Nile. Daniel in the lion’s den. David and King Saul. Sounds like a masterclass in great stories of the Bible, right?! What a rich learning opportunity for anyone wanting to go deeper into God’s Word!
This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in just such a masterclass, and the “teachers” ranged in age from six to eleven years old (with the exception of two old folks ages 62 and 64)! The “teachers” were our grandkids, and this is the third year we’ve taken them to a cabin in Oklahoma for a long weekend – no parents allowed.
The schedule for the weekend is pretty fluid - mostly them playing and eating way too much sugar. They help us plan the menus, and it’s tradition to spend one afternoon hiking one of the trails in the nearby state park.
In addition, each child and grandparent is responsible for a Bible story. After each meal, someone shares a story and three questions for the listeners.
The kids have gotten pretty creative! On this trip, one of the girls who’s involved in theater wrote a script, and she and her cousins and siblings acted out her story. Another of the kids passed out a word scramble for everyone. The Daniel and the lions’ den story was accompanied by a word search. We discussed big topics like strong faith, trust in God, bravery in the face of persecution and threat, God-honoring prayer, grace over revenge, and lots of other “grown-up” topics.
I’m always amazed to see how much time and effort the kids put into their stories and how supportive they are of each other as each one takes his or her turn. After each story, we “shower” the “teacher” with character traits we admire about him or her.
Those three days are golden! Not gonna lie – there’s some bickering and taking sides and hurt feelings. Welcome to the human race. But there’s also a whole lot of making amends, apologizing, extending grace, discussing the Golden Rule, and laughter! Card games, hide and seek, and burning off energy among the trees and walking along the roads bring more healing than one might expect. Hard topics sit better when they’re discussed in fresh air, a cold breeze, and winter sunshine.
The kids are getting older, and Papa and Milly realize the day may come when this weekend is a no-go for busy teenagers with sports commitments and activities with friends. But before their parents picked them up today, the vote was unanimous that we should repeat the trip next year. (Full disclosure – the vote was held as they scarfed the last of the chocolate left over from the trip! Is that bribery?)
I was 18 before my walk with the Lord began. Of the five grandkids, four have already committed their lives to following Jesus. I know they’re young and there’s a lot about the Lord they have yet to learn. I spend a lot of time praying for them, and there’s nothing I pray for all of them more than that their walks with Him will be exponentially sweeter and stronger than mine has ever been. I pray they’ll know God’s Word, love it, and apply it. I pray they’ll be leaders in God’s kingdom and be equipped for every good work He brings before them. I pray they’ll see others through the same eyes of compassion as their Savior. And I pray they’ll long for that place He’s prepared for them when this life is over. I just want them to love Jesus with their whole hearts because I know He loves them with His.
If a little three-day getaway with Papa and me can be used by the Lord to bring about answers to those prayers, I’m willing to part with a little chocolate to get them there and let Him do His work. Chocolate is a small price to pay to witness our grandkids grow in their faith!
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Lord, thank You for the gift of grandchildren. Thank You for the privilege of discipling them and pouring truth and encouragement into their lives. Lord, use these precious children to make a kingdom impact in this world. You promise to equip them and to give them the courage necessary to do Your will – for their good and for Your glory. We believe. In the beautiful Name of Jesus, we pray for our grandchildren. Amen.
