A Father’s Love (by Brian Pinckney)

Chances are that I will plow no new ground with these words. The two stories involved are both well-known internet fodder, and one even went viral for a while. You probably have pondered similar thoughts to these before, so expect nothing profound or new.

Our first story is of a little boy from Edinburgh, Scotland, and it is his story that went viral on the internet. His name is Noel Hopkins and he is two, or was at the time of this occurrence.

So let me set this up for you. He’s two, a young two at that, with round glasses and a delightful accent, and he found his mommy’s lipstick, and there happened to be a mirror that needed some artwork that was at just the right height for the efforts of someone who is two. And so he set about his task.

Now, he wasn’t trying to be bad! Oh no! But when you’re two, things happen. “Things forbidden have a secret charm,” as Tacitus said.

There is always a cop around when you don’t need them. In this case, it was his mommy. She happened upon the little Picasso in the midst of his efforts and caught it on camera.

At first, the little guy was standing beside his masterpiece but his mommy’s tone of voice was probably what clued him into the fact that he was busted.

“Noel, who drew on Mommy’s mirror?” she asked.

Being smart, Noel quickly exited the proximity of the crime scene. Now granted, it was only by a distance of a few feet, but when you are two, that is quite a ways, certainly enough to imply innocence.

That accomplished, he turned about to gaze with astonishment at the desecration wrought upon the mirror and gave his response.

“I don’t know.” he replied plaintively.

“Was it you?”

“No.” Plain and simple, without the slightest hesitation.

It was obvious the wheels were spinning in that little noggin of his. Mommy just might be buying the story; he had better give himself a little more wiggle room. He doubled down . . .

“Who was it?”

“Batman.”

This gets a muffled guffaw from Mom as she stifles her laughter.

“Batman did it?”

“Yes, Batman did it.” He then launches into the details as he creatively throws the Caped Crusader under the bus.

That little stinker! Here he is with his mommy, one who loves him more than he can ever know and whom he is dependent on for everything. And yet he was telling her a string of falsehoods, denying responsibility, and blaming someone else with a natural ease that would make any narcissist proud. No acting lessons, no coaching, just self-interest being pursued.

Being two years old casts a powerful penumbra of innocence round about it. It’s a time when values and standards of behavior are works in progress and the lines haven’t jelled yet. And imaginary figures make handy scapegoats.

Yet, how this sums up the human condition, right back to the garden, hiding amidst the fig leaves. Do a little blaming and finger-pointing and hope you can buffalo someone who loves you more than you can ever know, the King of the Universe. If all else fails even imply it was all His fault for not making the system fail-proof.

How far this is from what God intended! He wanted close, loving relationships with us . . . genuine love demonstrated by obedience expressed in the midst of the gift of free will. And in the place of that, all He got was a load of fig leaves and finger-pointing and blame-shifting. It came as no surprise to Him, He knew all along that was what He was going to get, but He had to give the opportunity. The simplicity and beauty of the trusting, honest relationship He longed for replaced with the complexity of lies and coverups by His children. And it wasn’t Batman who was going to pay the price to get things back on track.

Thomas Vander Woude served as athletic director at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He and his son Joseph were popular on campus, an important, beloved part of the small campus community. Joseph was born with trisomy-21, Down syndrome. The youngest of the Vander Woude’s seven children, Joseph—or “Josie” as the family called him—and his father were inseparable. The family owned and operated a farm near Nokesville, Virginia, and Josie pitched in alongside the rest with all the chores that accompany any household.

One day in September of 2008 Tom and Josie were toiling away at some yard work when the cover on a large septic tank gave way beneath Josie’s feet and he plunged down into that deep dark pit of sewage. The noxious gas alone in such a place is lethal, let alone the certainty of drowning in the mire. Josie was helpless, panicked in that toxic hole. Tom was losing his child. Too far down to reach his son, Tom went down into the tank with him, trying to hold his son up while he himself was submerged in the sewage. Tomas Vander Woude labored mightily until exhausted. He did the only thing he could do: fixing himself on the bottom of the tank, he became the platform on which Josie could stand. There in the blackness of that tank, as unimaginable foulness filled his mouth and throat and lungs, a loving father gave his life for his child.

And though that vile pit could rob Tom Vander Woude of life, it could not rob him of his love for his son. Josie survived.

So often we seek to encounter God through beauty. His awesome creation hints at His majesty and power and glory. But His Love, oh His Love. His willingness to climb into the pit to save His child. That He can love each and every one of His children with infinitely intense love. He did not send someone else to do the dirty work. No second-string bench warmer was called up. Tabernacling in a tent of human flesh, Jesus did that job Himself, He willingly climbed down into the noxious pit of this world to save His children. For the joy set before Him.

And yes, our lives can be very dark.

But if we can learn to look at the things in our lives

not as what happens to us

but as what happens for us

Opportunities to learn, to grow, to become ever more and more the individual He created us to be

to seek His will.

To be ever aware of His love and patience.

To place our hand in His

and to trust

is to feel His smile, even in the darkness—

to know that it is He who supports us,

and to journey with Him toward the dawn,

that bright and blessed dawn.

Brian, reading this aloud . . .

Brian has been a family friend for twenty years. He has a voice like Garrison Keillor but writes stories that are even more folksy and profound. He really needs to be on Christian radio! Meanwhile, I get the joy of sharing some of his writings with you. Happy Father’s Day coming soon to each of you, and Happy Birthday, Brian!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

#5. An Epic Husband—Who Even Launders Our Money!

We had a challenging marriage for about the first 40-45 years. I mean, life is tough no matter who you are, right? I’ve never figured out if we were more dysfunctional than other couples or just “normal.” There were definitely relationships that were even more messy (inferred from the stats on the number of marriages that end in divorce), but I observed many relationships that seemed more compatible—at least from the outside. We had a very volatile relationship, mostly because I felt emotionally abandoned on the home front, and Alan gave everything he had at the office so had no energy for problem solving and child care when he got home. When he got home, he wanted to shut off all the stress of work, have a comforting dinner, and spend some time playing with the kids. (Which, I have to say, is way better than many of the other possibilities.) When he got home, I wanted him to take over manning the fort and join me in caring for the needs of our family and home.

Sound familiar? If not, and you think I’m a whiny wimp, just skip these next three paragraphs. But, if you’re struggling to survive, I empathize with you and want to encourage you to hang in there, because life is tough for everybody, whether or not it’s obvious from the outside looking in. Over our nearly 50 years of marriage, I’ve had the privilege of knowing many, many wonderful women, and I’ve yet to hear any of them say, “Life is great! My husband is practically perfect in every way and so am I. Neither of us have a selfish streak, and our home and family are nothing but fabulous! No sickness, no in-law stresses, no work issues. No major disagreements on any subject. We especially agree on how to rear our children, and they’re pretty much perfect in every way too. No problems here. Life is a bed of roses.”

I mean, have you? It may look like families are super happy (and in many ways ours was and is), but if it’s not difficult because of internal friction, then there are often external challenges that keep us on our knees. I truly believe God gives us more than we can handle in ourselves so we’ll rely on Him for grace, strength, and wisdom. All marriages struggle and suffer to some degree. We once had friends with two little angelic girls. We had two little squirrelly boys about the same age. When they mentioned in passing that good behavior is all in the training, I smiled outwardly, but inwardly I protested, “Lord, is there any chance you could send them a super active boy next?”

Anyway, all this to say that most marriages go like this: You wake up at some point and realize the marriage is not going to survive unless you totally surrender your heart and desires and instead give 100% (and more) of your time and attention to meeting the needs of your spouse and kids rather than trying to get a fair break or time to go to the bathroom in peace. (“What do you think this is? Grand Central Station?”) Somebody has to live sacrificially, or the marriage is doomed. You have to give up your expectations for “fair” and “equal.” In the best of marriages (and probably most that survive), both partners learn to love unconditionally and give sacrificially. I guess it’s possible some couples are so compatible (and wealthy) that they can find time to have their own needs met in the process of child-rearing, but I’ve yet to meet one who didn’t at least quietly feel like pulling out some of their hair some of the time.

But, is loving sacrificially a bad thing? Actually, that’s exactly what God calls us to in Luke 9:23: “And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” That’s what it means to be a disciple of Christ. We all want to be disciples, right? But . . . dying to self and living for God . . . man, is that hard!!

Alan and I are still learning, but since he’s retired, I want it to stand on record that he’s become an amazing husband! He has spent the last couple of years working tirelessly to get our home—battered by many youngsters for many years—a little closer to being in reasonable shape. He is Mr. Fix-It and notices things that I don’t even think about. One example: The iron grate in our fireplace had warped on one side so logs tended to roll off. He replaced it, and now keeping the fire going is so much easier!

Beyond all the normal chores you might imagine a retired husband helping out with, he’s gone overboard (in the best sense). He relieves me of all sorts of housework so I can write, including dishes, housecleaning, and laundry! The other day, he even laundered his wallet! 🙂

For the war-torn and weary, please don’t give up! This season of life shall pass. The Bible often records, “And it came to pass.” When things were really hard. my dad used to say, “This too shall pass.” At my lowest times, I used to console myself with the reminder, “At least I’m not sitting in a cold, dark prison for believing in Christ.” No matter how hard things are, they could be worse! I’m not carrying my cross up Golgotha before being crucified. My cross has never been very heavy, but the Lord is working in Alan and me, and that’s a good thing! I’m so grateful to have a husband who is still alive, married to me, well, and of sound mind. Beyond that, he helps out in a zillion unexpected ways! What a gift and blessing!

“For you, O God, have tested us;
    you have tried us as silver is tried.
¹¹ You brought us into the net;
    you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
¹² you let men ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” (Psalm 66:10-12, ESV)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Oatmeal Fruit Bake (Can Be Vegan)

Here’s a hearty breakfast bursting with flavor that can be prepared the night before and kept in the refrigerator or made in the morning. Just give yourself an hour to bake it!

Oatmeal Fruit Bake
(12 Large Servings)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In your largest mixing bowl, combine:
5 juicy pieces of fruit chopped into bite-sized pieces (and peeled if necessary); I used 3 pears and 2 Honeycrisp apples, but bananas, berries (1 cup= “1 piece”), peaches, plums (2-3= “1 piece”), etc. all work well. The only thing I don’t think would work “fine” is citrus, but if you try it and like it, let me know! 🙂

Add:
5 cups oatmeal (rolled oats)
3 cups milk (I used Almond, but use whatever you like, dairy or non-dairy)
1 cup chopped walnuts (or other nuts you like)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup honey (can replace with maple syrup to make it vegan)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt

Mix gently until the ingredients are evenly combined, everything is wet, and the fruit is all well covered. (Some people put dry ingredients in one bowl, fruit in another bowl, and wet in another, and then stir the wet and dry and finally add the fruit, but I think this is unnecessary as long as you mix things together well and work relatively quickly after you’ve got your fruit cut. As you can probably tell, I’m always looking for the simplest, fastest, most pragmatic way to get delicious results.)

Empty into a roasting pan, patting it down until it’s even. COVER it with the top! (Some people don’t, but this makes for a very crusty bake, which I don’t like, and neither do my kids.) Bake in the oven for 1 hour. You can serve it immediately or turn the oven off and serve it within half an hour, but keep it covered or it will dry out. It also reheats fine. I served 10 the first morning, and then Alan and I ate the last two servings reheated in the microwave (covered!) th e next morning. The texture and taste were still great.

Serve hot and add milk or cream as desired. It’s really a meal-in-one and vegan or not, depending on the type of milk you use. High protein. Low fat. Lots of fiber and flavor. What’s not to love??

“For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

Hearty Vegan Three-Bean Chili

Winter is the perfect time for a steaming bowl of chili for supper or a snack, and I’ve found it’s easily adaptable for vegan palates . . . which is good, because my son Michael’s family has become vegan! Mike and Grace were visiting with their six this past weekend, and our new chili turned out so well that even those of us who aren’t vegans chowed down with gusto!

Chilly Day Three-Bean Vegan Chili
(Feeds 15-20)

Add together in your largest saucepan:
2 cans (15 oz. or about) of black beans (with the juice in the can)
2 cans of kidney beans
2 cans of navy beans
2 large cans of diced tomatoes (about 32 oz. each)
1 large can of tomato sauce
2 large onions, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped (orange, green, red, or yellow)
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
3 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon oregano
1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning (or your favorite)
2 tablespoons chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste (I start with a tablespoon of each and then test later to see if that was enough)
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce (this made it too hot for the smaller members of our family, so maybe let people add their own at the end if you have young children)
2 cups water

Cook over high to medium heat until the vegetables are tender, stirring often to keep anything from burning, and then simmer everything for at least half an hour longer, continuing to stir it every few minutes to make sure nothing sticks and burns on the bottom. The flavor continues to improve with time, so you can turn off the heat, keep it covered, and just rewarm it when you’re ready to eat. Chili is a great dish to prepare ahead if you’re not sure when your family will arrive. It’s also a good choice for taking to a friend or serving for a party or potluck. It freezes well, so if this recipe is too large, you can either cut it in half or freeze some in qt.-sized jars for future meals. Also, if you’re looking for a recipe to serve fewer or those who are not vegan, I wrote up my original recipe five years ago here:

https://kathrynwarmstrong.wordpress.com/2017/09/30/hearty-three-bean-chili-for-chilly-days/

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9…and perhaps by hearty soup as well?!)

September Birthdays: Triple Treat

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September wins the Most-Birthdays-in-a-Month award in our family. We have four birthdays in less than a week during October, but we have FIVE birthdays in September—three clustered near the beginning—so over Labor Day weekend we had a triple birthday party. If people in their 80’s are “octogenarians” does that make people in their thirties trinitarians? Well, I guess we’re all trinitarians in our family, but as of now our three oldest kids are quatrogenerians and our four youngest are trinigenarians.  How did that happen?

            In addition to our daughter’s birthday, we were able to celebrate two of our son Mike and his wife Grace’s girls’ birthdays. One of their daughters was 11 years old and turned twelve, and their youngest daughter (and our youngest grandchild) was 11 months old and turned 12 months! We had been sadly disappointed to miss her birth a year ago, because Michael’s family was living in Europe at the time, and despite our reserving flights months in advance, we weren’t allowed to fly from America to anywhere in the EU due to Covid restrictions. We also had to give up our tickets to see the Passion Play at Oberammergua (which occurs in Germany only once each ten years), which was another big disappointment. My mother saw the performance in 1960, and I had been super excited to see it in 2020 . . . and then last spring in 2021 when they rescheduled it (although it has now been postponed until 2022). Lots of disappointments, but now lots of joys!

            Our son Dan and his wife Brianna hosted the Triple Treat birthday party with a wonderful pool and pizza party and plenty of goodies! One of the surprises for all of us was the amazing vegan pizza, which was loaded with veggies. It was my favorite, and I think that was true for several of us! Who says bread and veggies can’t taste wonderful?

            Later that week, we celebrated our granddaughter’s twelfth birthday (again), and at the end of the week, our littlest grand baby’s first birthday. Last year at this time, I was feeling acutely the disappointment of not being able to be with Mike’s family for such milestones but never dreamed that this year they’d be living in America and within driving range for Labor Day weekend! Even more undreamable was the reality that Covid has made remote work possible, so my daughter’s family was able to spend a week with us in August, and Mike was able to work remotely for the week of his daughters’ birthdays! Never in a million years would I have guessed Covid would provide this unique blessing!

            Father, you always know what you’re doing, even though most of the time I do not! Help me—and all of us—trust You in our disappointments, knowing that You have a plan to bless us above and beyond if we will just patiently submit to You! 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Why is Grand Rapids Called Grand Rapids?

I have a darling little grandson who was born in Italy 3 years ago and now lives in Belgium. He has no memories of life in America but will be visiting us this summer. Still, his parents are wonderful about keeping in touch, so Marius knows his “Papa” and “Nana” and sometimes remembers to pray for us or will ask his mom to call so we can FaceTime. Marius is very excited about coming to see us (as we are to see him!). In preparation for their upcoming visit, Mike and Grace told him that his grandparents live in a place called Grand Rapids. He nodded knowingly, “It’s called Gran Rapids because that’s where my granparents live.”

I laughed, but then I thought about “heaven.” I’m like a little child. I’ve never been to heaven. I have no memories of heaven. I have no clue where the word came from (even after studying it in the dictionary) or how it got its name. What I do know is that it’s where God lives, and I’m excited to go there to be with Him! Marius’ parents will transport him and make sure he gets safely to Gran Rapids. All he has to do is trust them and not run away! The Holy Spirit will take us safely to heaven, too, if we’ll trust Jesus and not run away!

Truly, even if Marius tried to run away, his parents watch him too closely to let him run away forever. Our heavenly Father watches over us even more closely. We may run, but we can’t totally “escape” from the love and care of our heavenly Father once we’ve become a child by faith in Jesus. And, like three-year-old Marius, who could never cross the Atlantic Ocean and find his way to Gran Rapids without his parents, neither could we traverse this life and find our way safely home to heaven without the tender care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Are you a child of God? Are you eager to visit your heavenly Father? Are you excited about crossing the wide ocean of this life to reach the “promised land” of heaven? Or, are you insecure and afraid that you are not “good enough,” even though you do believe in Jesus, have repented of your sins, and asked Christ to be your Lord and Savior? What if Marius became insecure about whether or not his parents could really help him get to Grand Rapids? Do you think his doubts and fears—or even his naughtiness at times—could change his parents’ mind so that they would just leave him behind when they come to visit? Never in a million years! Mike and Grace would die protecting Marius, and God would die before He would allow anything to separate us from Him.

In fact, that’s exactly what God did. God, in the person of his Son Jesus (who is “God made flesh”) died for us, in our place, in repayment for ALL our sins, so that NOTHING can keep us from going safely home to heaven when we die! Human parents could possibly fail, but God never fails! Trust Him! Don’t fear death, look forward to it as the last great adventure that will take us to live permanently with our heavenly Father!

Speaking of Jesus, we are taught, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:9-13, ESV).

P.S.—If you’re still not sure whether or not you are a true believer and a child of God on your way to heaven when you die, please click on the “Coming To Christ” tab at the top of the page, which gives a fuller explanation and I hope will reassure you of your standing before God.

Watermelon Sticks: Simple to Cut, Easy to Eat—for All Ages!

How do you slice your watermelon? Even though it’s been a staple in my summer diet for the past nearly 70 years, it took until this summer when some of our kids’ friends came over for dinner to learn what you may have known for 70 years—a super simple, quick method for slicing and serving watermelon in a way that makes it neat, easy to hold, and easy to eat without a lot of juice dripping down your arm or getting your face wet.

1. Slice off a one-inch round (works best with seedless watermelons that are still a bit firm).

2. Slice off the excess rind on the left and right sides.

3. Slice once diagonally, and then vertically 4-5 times to make 10-12 neat pieces.

4. Serve. Depending on how many people you have, these can be served even on your cutting board or several rounds can be arranged on a platter to serve larger groups.

They make an attractive, sweet addition to any lunch or a perfect fruit snack by themselves. Frankly, I actually prefer a few of these “watermelon sticks” to popsicle sticks on warm days. Your kids might too! 🙂

Well, at least once they get the hang of it!

“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees” (Isaiah 66:12). There is hope in the future for all who are born again into the kingdom of God!

Out of the Mouths of Grandchildren

One of the greatest joys of our lives are visits from our children and grandchildren. For the past couple of weeks, our “Chicago Kids” visited. Those of you who are similarly blessed with grandchildren might especially enjoy these “jokes” which are purported to be true stories of how grandchildren perceive their grandparents. (My grands say lots of cute things, but I can’t take authorship for any of these.)

1. I was in the bathroom, putting on my makeup, under the watchful eyes of my young granddaughter, as I’d done many times before. After I applied my lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!” I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye….

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him: “72.” My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?”

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. “We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.” The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten to know you sooner!”

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?” I mentally polished my halo and said, “No, how are we alike?” “You’re both old,” he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”

7. I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I really think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!”

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, “It’s no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.”

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised “Mine says I’m 4 to 6.” (WOW! I really like this one — it says I’m only ’38’!)

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, “Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. “That’s interesting.” she said. “How do you make babies?” “It’s simple,” replied the girl. “You just change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.”

11. Children’s Logic: “Give me a sentence about a public servant,” said a teacher. The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child.”

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.
“They use him to keep crowds back,” said one child.
“No,” said another. “He’s just for good luck.”
A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.”

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. “Oh,” he said, “she lives at the airport, and whenever we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”

14. Explanation by one awed grandchild: “Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him!”

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.”
(Proverbs 17:6)

Surviving Covid-19 with Couped Up Kiddos

Are you or your kids bored now that the world is supposed to be practicing social distancing for the next 2-8 weeks? Obviously, enterprising senior citizens can use the time to clean their closets and organize their homes better. But, what about kiddos? I have a young friend in Indiana who said her kids are driving her nuts . . . to the point of making her depressed. I get it! While our Chicago kids were home last week on spring break (before everything shut down), Gerlinde and I put our heads together to come up with some ideas for what to do (especially with little ones) during the interim. So, if your kids are going crazy, consider some of these ideas:

• Organize. First and foremost, we need to become unified under God within our individual home units. Children thrive on order and routine, and regularity makes them feel secure. What about starting with a family-wide prayer meeting, asking God for direction, help, and wisdom?
• Call a family meeting. Explain what’s going on as best you can. So often children are left out of the loop on the theory that this will relieve their anxieties, but in fact, nothing relieves anxiety like honest, open communication. Hardship can either drive a family closer together or further apart, depending on whether or not you get everybody to sign on to working together to overcome the challenges.
• Allow your kids to express the way they feel without criticism. Let them voice their disappointments and insecurities. Reassure them where you honestly can; sympathize with their losses and frustrations; encourage them to be patient and hopeful while we all wait to see how this crisis is going to play out. Keep calm and prayerful.
• Brainstorm as a family: Create a few guidelines and goals that everybody can sign on to together. Ask each person what they need to feel loved and secure during this time. What can each person do that will help contribute to the harmony and health of the family community? What would people like to do for fun? Perhaps older children could help younger children learn their lessons, babysit, or help with routine housework. You may know this already, but many young children can be very helpful in the kitchen, and most kids respond well to working with a beloved parent. Do you have a fun-loving child? Maybe they could be in charge of organizing games or evening fun times. I had one enterprising 6-year-old who was happy to be paid $1 per hour to babysit his younger sibs (with the understanding that his 12-year-old brother would be available in case of trouble).
• Here are a few ideas from Gerlinde:

https://hellogiggles.com/news/museums-with-virtual-tours/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200314&utm_term=2627516&fbclid=IwAR1gdmUy8ycr2ipFrLh32SnBbydiiGYrwESAGQIdqlqzW1aP4rqzHPoTppY

Free virtual museum tours

https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html?fbclid=IwAR1WxQBjFf-BeMjg21BYNmiZ4d3haFD-aRpFhGYue32YdL5KTPoLBGFX9nU

Coronavirus has your kids at home? Here are ideas for school at home.

I’ll try to come up with more ideas soon, and please feel free to add links to educational resources that you find in the comment box below if you can. Thanks!

“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Speaking of loving your neighbor as yourself, the 2019 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is so much more than simply a true life recounting of the friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod!

It’s a story about learning to love and forgive.

Of love lost and love found.

Of reconciliation after injury.

Of Hope.

The real journalist, Tom Junod, with the real Fred Rogers

It’s a wonderful example of how a modern-day saint (Fred Rogers) loved a cynical stranger (magazine journalist) and turned him into a lifelong friend.

Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

This beautiful day in the movie world is G-rated and perfectly appropriate for young kids.

But, like the true classic it is, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood has a deeply personal message for adults on emotional wholeness and healing.

I was also blown away by Fred’s genuine love for people (all people—great and small) and his gentle wisdom in living out what it looks like to be a good neighbor.

Matthew Rhys as “Larry Vogel” (script name for Tom Junod)

At one point “Larry Vogel” asked Fred’s wife what he did to keep being such a genuinely good person. Among other healthy habits, she mentioned that he read the scriptures every day and prayed for people by name. In an interview that I read after watching the movie, I found this quote by Tom Junod: “He clearly wanted me to pray. He clearly believed in prayer as a way of life. He prayed every day of his life. He woke up in the morning and prayed, and wrote, and prayed for people. And so I wrote that. The answer to: What did Fred want? He wanted us to pray. I have actually tried, since that moment, I’ve tried to pray.”

A generation of children (and adults) singing to Mr. Rogers on the subway

What a legacy to leave: A life of living like Jesus, loving your neighbors, meditating on the scriptures daily, praying constantly, and encouraging others to pray!

Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood ran for thirty-three years, beginning in 1968—the year I graduated from high school. His lifetime commitment to helping children earned him more than 40 honorary degrees and international fame, but he remained steady, kind, and humble throughout . . . using his life to serve others in love. What a beautiful legacy! I am sorry that I was “just the wrong age” to profit from his gentle teaching, but I am very thankful to Lion’s Gate for producing this inspiring story for all of us to enjoy!

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13, ESV).

(For more information on Fred Roger’s life and legacy, I reviewed the 2018 documentary about him, with some additional quotes, which can be found here:

https://kathrynwarmstrong.wordpress.com/2018/10/11/wont-you-be-my-neighbor-would-you-have-liked-mr-rogers-for-your-neighbor/

Also, I’ve noticed that you can get dozens (hundreds?) of half-hour episodes from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood for free on Amazon Prime and can probably see most of his programs for free on Netflix or YouTube. My guess is that these gentle shows about life, our world, and learning how to deal with our emotions would still be helpful for small children today.