Monday April 17 2017  LOVE IS A GIFT

Matthew 18:3

And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Our grandsons spent two days at our house this weekend.  On Saturday morning when I awakened my back would not bend.  I found myself sitting on my bench in our dressing room and unable to bend down to put my pressure stockings on my feet.  My back would not allow it.  I told Dave I didn’t think I could get them on.  Our youngest grandson, Xander, was quietly observing from the doorway.  Without a word he walked over, knelt down on the floor with his head bowed before me and gently took my stocking from the floor and lined it up in the correct direction as he gently slipped it onto my right foot.  The words: “I will help you Grandma”, fell tenderly on my ears.  He gathered up the stocking and kept inching it over the top of my foot until it was past my heel where I could then reach it to pull it up.  He waited and watched me tug the tight stocking up to my knee. 

Still kneeling, without a sound our grandson patiently waited and did the same for my left stocking.  I have never felt such tender hands on me before.  Xander’s purity of heart, and his willingness to humble himself and administrate the needs of his old grandmother, caused tears to well up in my eyes.  The heart of a child is so precious.  My thoughts flew back to the passage of scripture where Christ bent down before the disciples and washed their feet.  It felt as if my grandson’s touch was the touch of Jesus.

As I sat there with Xander’s hands brushing against my feet I was thanking God for the wonderful guidance our two grandsons have received from their parents.  I know how deeply I have loved both our children since the day we knew we were expecting them.  And I love our grandsons with that same deep affection.  However, what was spoken to my heart that day as I witnessed what my grandson did without being asked spoke loudly about how much he is loved and cared for by two parents who love their children every bit as much as we loved our little ones.  We should always remember that it is the actions of the parents which the little ones replicate.  As much as I was thankful for the responsive behavior of our grandson, so I was grateful for his father and mother who have taught both their sons that they are loved and have enough love to reach out and be kind and helpful to others.

It is believed that we as parents will influence the generations following us down through the fifth generation.  If you follow your heritage back thinking of the generations you have known, and then look forward, you can see the generational ties of behavior.  Fortunately for me, I was able to see that the ways my former generations parented was definitely lacking in some important areas.  I learned from both childhood experiences, as well as from my adult-view observation, that I wanted to follow a different course of parenting.  Growing up I never heard the words “I love you” from my parents and I decided it was time to change that.  If we don’t like what was, then it is up to us to change it going forward.  And I thank God for that insight because now two generations beyond me I can already see the positive results.  Our children and now our grandchildren have never had to wonder if they are loved.  And tears still sting my eyes.

We are so grateful that both grandsons exhibit a loving and giving heart.

LOVE IS A GIFT

Kathleen Martens

April 17, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Love is a gift

Wrapped in the arms of a mother

As she cradles her young,

Both sister and her brother.

Love is a gift

That is passed down through the years,

A gift that grows as it ages

Through smiles and through tears.

Love is gift

That never need dry up.

When we pour out love

God continually fills our cup.

Thank You God for our children.

Thank You God for our grandchildren.

Thank You God for the years we have lived to enjoy our grandsons.

Thank You God for our grandsons’ tender hearts full of love.

GOD BLESS YOU.

Remember, EVERY DAY is the day to say “I LOVE YOU”!