Anticipation

Recently . . . on two separate occasions, grand girls each came prepared with aprons in tow. Natalie knew we would be baking and came with a drawn list of her favourites and options on goodies we could make for school lunches.

 

But on the day that Makenna came by I was surprised to see her show up with the whole get-up, a present from her "other grandma" she said. I noted that maybe we would have to do some baking . . . to which she responded with the fact that this is what she had thought as well. (really!)

 

 

 

So, of course, mixing cookies became part of the agenda. There is no way a Grammy could say no to that kind of expectation.

It so happened that a few days later . . . I attended a simulcast conference with Beth Moore. If you have had the chance to see her on any kind of DVD . . . you know that she gets her message across in a rather dramatic and charismatic manner . . . a little too much for some . . . but on that day I saw her in a new way through her Grammy story. A certain genuineness that is part of who she is came through loud and clear.

She told us of a routine she does with her grands - concerning a mystery closet in her hallway. I wish I could tell it with the visual actions that she did . . . where I could not help but feel like I was the child right there . . . ten feet away from the closet . . . waiting with giddiness for her head to pop around the door for a quick check to see if I was still there. In her mystery closet she gathers small things that she finds when she is out and about . . . for such a time as this . . . when they come and ask, "can we . . . can we have something from the closet?" It's so much more about the anticipation than anything else . . . as she does a few quick preview sweeps before finally bringing out the surprise.

Her six year-old grandson asked her one day, "Bibee, when I'm in college, will you still have the mystery closet?" He kind of asked as though that would be silly, but really hoping she would. She replied with,"Why, of course I will! You will be big and taller than me and will come in that door asking for a mystery closet thing." You can imagine his beaming face . . . softening and proceeding to ask another question, "Bibee, when I'm a dad and have a boy, will you still have that closet?" I have to ask, who would not say yes?" By this time I had tears in my eyes, as she continued to tell of how he asked if, "Bibee, when I'm a grampa . . ."

It reminded me of Abraham asking God for a miracle for his nephew. As I sat in church the next morning, I wondered . . . do I come here with that kind of anticipation? Do I expect, with butterflies in my tummy, to see what God has in store for me, knowing that He loves to give to those who ask?

If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

I wish for more of that complete childlike anticipation and joy in what He has in store for me . . . eager to receive and eager to do.