Cadence, Licking a Beater.
Springtime is delightful, isn’t it? In our part of the world, the hills are green, flowers are bursting out everywhere, and the hummingbirds can’t keep their beaks out of the Echium blooms.
I’m eager to share delight when I’m delighted, so I drew up a list, short and simple, of delights you can share with your grandlittles–without breaking the bank.
1. Cookies. Or brownies, or cupcakes, or whatever other sweet thing you like to bake. If they’re local, whip up a batch together. Give them the beaters to lick, even if they’re teenagers. Especially if they’re teenagers. If they’re far away, order a sweet surprise to be delivered to their home.
2. Mail. Remember the last time you pulled a piece of personal mail out of the box–something hand-addressed to you in ink? Didn’t your heart do a happy little cartwheel? Send your grandlittles a sweet postcard or a cartoon you clipped from the newspaper. They’ll be tickled, even if they live right down the street.
3. Skype. Set aside 15 minutes just for them. If they have no news to report, sing them a silly song or do a funny dance. Make shadow puppets or talk like Donald Duck. Whether they’re near or far, the unexpected check-in reminds them that you’re thinking of them.
4. Draw a picture. Stick figures are fine if that’s what you can do. But give them a picture you drew to put on their fridge and watch the silly magic that inversions create. (Combine this one with Item Two, above, if they live far away.)
5. Pray for them. You can pray over them, or with them, or for them. It’s a great way to help them feel the love.
How about you? What delights do you share with your grandchildren? A friend told me that when her grands spend the weekend, they always have ice cream for breakfast on Saturday morning. What could be more delightful?
Think about a happy childhood recollection you carry about a relative and you’ll see again how little it takes to build a memory that will enrich their lives long after you’re gone.
4 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares.5 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.”
Zechariah 8:4-5 (NLT)
Skype with my main man Patrick just last night. He “read” me a book and made Winnie the Pooh dance for me. Absolutely delightful!
The last time I flew down to see him, I recorded a Skype video at the airport. I showed him the plane that was going to bring Granny to him. His mother said he played it over and over again until it drove her nuts.
So that can be a good idea, too. Especially if you want to drive the beloved grandchildren’s parents nuts 🙂
Nancy, I LOVE that idea of sending a video ahead showing you on the way. So much fun! And yes, those opportunities to drive the parents nuts can be priceless . . . especially when you’re delightfully and lovingly driving them nuts.