Greetings!

It is another Monday, the beginning of the work week and if you are like me, you may even now be wondering which ones of the many tasks on your ‘to do’ list, you would want to complete, conveniently forgetting the fact that we are human beings, not human doings. Such ironies notwithstanding, it seems that even without engaging any formal schooling for it [if there’s any such thing], we have become adept at packing…cramming into every available opening within a twenty-four hour period, the various and sundries which we, and all who demand them, believe must be accomplished, before the world comes to an end…next week. What a tangled web we weave, when such fallacy we choose to believe!

Well, this past weekend, amidst the desert of requirements and commitments, I experienced an oasis; I had a wonderful and engaging time, with my great-nephew, who is visiting from farrin. It had been a while since I last saw the little man and even though WhatsApp video calls enable us to ‘see’ each other virtually, the actual reality, was in a word…priceless!

My little man has grown physically but it is his intellectual capacity that has me looking, with a different kind of respect, at him. He refers to me as “Ms. Grace of the High Heavens.” I am yet to fully understand the symbolism of the designation, although I have a hunch that it has some bearing on my vocation to the priesthood. Although he has attained the chronological age of eleven, his mental capacity is that of a mature eighteen year old, engaged in tertiary level education. I must admit, throughout our weekend experience, there were things which, for lack of practice, I never got right, but he was patient, and I had fun learning.

Our days began with him reading for me from his devotional book and together we would discuss our thoughts on some of the salient points raised therein. One such had to do with not allowing others to determine our response, since by doing so, we would, in a sense, be opening the door for them to arrogate to themselves, power over us, that none but God should have. Well, even if you have never experienced my very vocally active driving, you will still be able to appreciate the young lad’s astuteness, as we discussed a particular point from the devotional.

In talking about what it means for him to do the right thing, even by saying no, we highlighted the fact that an example of such doing was by responding with kindness, when faced with blatant rudeness. In doing so we agreed, we would be saying no to the need to retaliate in kind and yes to taking the moral high road…citing examples of situations he was currently experiencing. As we talked, I had the bright idea to make the conversation more inclusive i.e. not only about him; after all, this matter of doing the right thing is not just for children, right? So I volunteered that adults like me must also practice this virtue, to which my young man responded… “Yes, like you not allowing the drivers on the road to make you lose your temper and start cussing, because that is like, behaving in the same way they are!”

I wish I could find an image/emoji to insert right here, something that could visually demonstrate the stunned silence that gave way to the petulant look that came over my face and me saying quietly and remorsefully…”You are right, I must never allow bad behavior to determine my response and make me react in a way that is no different from bad behavior.” His simple response to that confession was a very terse…”Yes!”

As the weekend progressed, he introduced me to one of his favorite television shows. It is an Investigation Discovery one, in which crime scenes are recreated with actors playing the roles of suspects, victims’ relatives, as well as detectives. It was interesting to say the least, listening to him explain why I was wrong in my conclusion about who had committed a particular crime. “You have to look at motive…why each possible suspect would want to commit the crime,” he said. The young man knew his stuff! At one point during a particular episode, there was a ‘kissing scene’; his typical eleven year old reaction was “Ugh…why is that even necessary?” So I opined, that it was all in keeping with showing what took place, leading up to the crime [the murder of a young woman, allegedly by her boyfriend]. Without batting an eyelid, the young man responded…”So what, do they think they would be able to extract some evidence from his lips?” At that point I just said [to myself] Cree! I laughingly admitted that he is the knowledgeable one, and simply settled in with him, to watch the remainder of the show.

Although this may seem like a departure from the usual, with respect to these weekly writings, I am moved by my weekend experience to say that, aside from all we adults seem to think we must do and over which we must exercise control, particularly when it comes to children and young people, observing, being with and engaging them in conversation, can be an illuminating experience. It is like holding a large mirror before us, into which we are able, should we choose to look, observe details which, due to adult myopia, we would never have seen, let alone perceived.

Jesus was indeed correct in saying “Let the children come [to me] and do not stop them.” [Matthew 19:14]. I believe that at the heart of that statement was a command, one that bids us get down from our high horses and, from the vantage of our young ones, experience life in all its fullness, even if that means admitting to the limitations of being adults.

Like I said, there are still some things I need to learn, about being with and caring for children, especially when like my great-nephew their reasoning capacity has transcended the boundaries of our rigid expectations. This weekend therefore, has been wonder-filled! To be sure, there are those other things that I was not able to do or accomplish, but these pale into insignificance, when I recall that I was able to bond with and learn from one of a younger generation. God really does have a sense, not only of humor, but of human!

Until next time, watch out for the young ones and with them, stay safe and well, remaining in His grip!

Grace+