The Blessings of Being a Nana

By My Friend, Teresa Branstetter Kimbel

Yesterday, I had the privilege of picking up my grandson, Brody, from school. Having seventeen hours to wait in the pick-up line (I had been warned), I had plenty of time to ponder how my relationship with Brody parallels God’s relationship with us.

1. I knew Brody’s school dismissed at 3:30, and because the pick up line is seventeen miles long (), I would need to leave the house around 2:20. I got there at 2:45, fourth car in the fourth lane, and Brody was the sixteenth child to be picked up. Mammie did good!

God never shows up late; never has, never will. He knows exactly where I am and where I’ll be going next. Like a watcher in advance, He never takes his eyes off of me.

2. Brody loves my chicken and rice soup, and I love that he loves it. I never tire of making it because I love to watch him eat it. His excitement honors me and third helpings prove he likes it. God is a jealous God who wants his children’s undivided attention. We glorify, praise and honor him when we accept his gifts freely, without complaining.

3. I brought two packages of truck crackers (Pappaw buys them by the case at Sams and keeps them in his truck, hence the name) and a canned drink in case Brody wanted a snack in the car. I also had Wintergreen lifesavers and a peppermint laid out on the console, to let him know I know what he likes, and that his needs and desires matter to me.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”??Zephaniah? ?3:17? ?ESV??(We didn’t sing loudly but I did have Pandora playing.)

4. I asked Brody if he wanted to go somewhere and eat, like at IGA, and he said he wasn’t that hungry and he just wanted to go to his house. Then, I told him that I had fixed chicken and rice soup but that I’d take him home if that’s what he wanted. He said, “No, if you’ve got chicken and rice soup, I’ll go home with you.” There’s nothing like giving your grandchildren choices and them picking the one you hoped they would choose. “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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”??Jeremiah? ?29:11-13? ?

Recently, Brody told me that he had been anxious, so he got his Bible and said, “I don’t know where to go, God, so show me. I opened my Bible and it fell to exactly what I needed. I did it again and it happened again.”

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you,” says the Lord.

And Brody does. And I think he knows exactly which pick up line he’s in, where he’s going, and who will take him home.

Yesterday was a very good day.