For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6
One of my ongoing dilemmas as a writer goes something like this: If I want to write, I need uninterrupted time to be quiet, reflective, and creative; however, there’s nothing to write about if I don’t actually live! Ergo yesterday’s problem of not being able to squeeze a post in before I was up to my eyeballs in life, and then never finding the time to turn on my computer and write about the day.
Yesterday was one of those days where I ran just a beat or two behind – consistently. Then, every time I came close to getting my head above water, something unexpected would come along and I’d be gasping for air.
Serendipity, however, came in the form of my first ever opportunity to see our grandson David in a program at his preschool. I drove to Richmond first thing in the morning, and was able to surprise him: “Grandaddy, how did you manage to come here?” Then, after the program, there was a reception in his classroom. “David is loved by his peers,” his teacher wrote in her report, “and he shows much respect for all…”
“David is loved by his peers, and he shows much respect for all…”
LOVE & RESPECT:
If my grandson can begin, and continue, his schooling career with those two qualities seared into the way he responds to the learning community, then (accompanied by his bright spirit and insatiably curious mind) it’s going to be a case of, “the sky’s the limit” – both in education and relationships.
All this – of course – begs the question, “What can any of us do to be loved by our peers….?” Well the answer turns out to be disarmingly simple: “Love them; just love them – no quid pro quo. Love others without expectation, love them generously, love them as a gift.”
We can’t make someone else love us. But we can choose to love others, and to love without reservation. And we can also make the choice to treat others with respect.
This also happens to be the message of Christmas. We love him who first loved us. Jesus gave everything; he came into this world without any agenda other than that of loving, and giving, and inviting. Receive him or reject him, Christ still loves us without holding back.
So, You go, David! Just love your little heart out, and respect without all that judging the adults seem to get caught up in. Your peers already love you. So don’t let up with your generous heart.
In love, and because of love – DEREK (Grandaddy)
