Let’s go back two years, to sometime before Christmas 2018. Russ and RayRay were over for a sleepover. It was a wonderful time. We went from activity to activity with sometimes only a moment’s rest in between; no time to clean up before moving onto the next thing. (After the boys have been with us for a day the house is a MESS, but not a problem, I’m just saying.) Outside that day we were in the snow. Inside we were creating Duplo houses, baking cupcakes, and making music. I was always following little RayRay as he became more and more confident on his little feet. The camera was always at hand as Kevin captured precious memories for the slide show at the end of the day.
We were watching that slide show, and one joy filled scene caught my eye. I have to admit it wasn’t the joy, but my old hands that stood out as I looked at a picture of me and Ray at the piano. I commented, "my hands look like old lady hands". Little Russ agreed, saying so matter-of-factly, “that's because they are”!
Fast forward to this fall. Allison’s clan was visiting, and Russ and I were running laps around the dining room table, pretending to be in a relay, passing an ornamental gourd back and forth as we completed each round. Suddenly Nana had an idea! “Russ, how about we get Poppa to time us? I wonder if an old lady can run faster than you?” I wish I had a picture to capture the image of his face looking up at me. “That’s just not gonna happen, Nana”, was clearly written there. Imagine his surprise when Nana’s time was 5 seconds and his was 6. I’m enjoying my win, because one day he will fly by his “very old” Nana.
I’m reminded that in Psalm 92 we read, “The righteous flourish like the palm tree...they still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” I never thought being “sappy” was a good thing, but now I’m happy to still have enough sap to run around the dining room table with my grandson. “ Here’s my wish for him: “May our (grand)sons in their youth be like plants full grown.” Psalm 144:12