We had a busy weekend, and I am almost glad to be at work so I can rest. The reason I am so tired is that we ran around with our granddaughters. Although they are three-and-a-half and two, they can run circles around us.
One of the highlights of the weekend was taking them to Crown Center, here in Kansas City. Crown Center is an upscale shopping mall, with a whole lot more in the surrounding area. In the winter, there is an outdoor skating rink, while in the summer, they have a fountain that shoots out of the ground. Kids of all ages can run through the jets of water, including "Gramma Robin", who showed Savannah and Katelynn the proper way to get wet in a fountain. (Hint: If you aren't completely soaked, you're doing it wrong!)
I was manning the camera, and got to capture their joy. Their cries of, "Watch me, Poppa!" rang out over the whooshing and splashing of the water, and I would aim the camera in their direction and try to catch them in the frame. It wasn't easy.
Later on, we had a picnic in the backyard. I was keeping the girls out of Robin's hair while she got our dinner ready, and the girls were playing on the plastic yard equipment. Savannah kept showing me her new trick.
"Watch me, Poppa!" I assured her I was watching, and she would shoot head-first down the slide.
Time and time again: "Watch me, Poppa!"
After they were tucked in bed, I reflected on her actions. Why did she keep asking me to watch her? Was she afraid she was going to get hurt? Was she just so proud of her new-found ability that she had to show me over and over?
At first, I thought, "How childish."
But then I realized how wrong I was.
After all, we all have something inside us that craves attention. We all have a desire to show off to others. I think part of it is just to remind the world that we are alive, that we are here. We all want to leave our mark.
Some go out and win gold medals in the Olympics. Others create visual masterpieces on canvas with paint. Still others create fountains that kids can run through. Some of us write novels and record podcasts.
But more than just leaving a mark, a brief reminder of our existence, I think all of us have a need to make sure that Someone is watching. We want to know our Creator hasn't forgotten us. We want to hear God telling us He is proud of us.
So we do whatever it is He has asked us to do. We exercise the gifts and talents He has given us. And even whatever we do has the ability to entertain and bless others, deep down inside, I think our spirits are crying out to God: Watch me, Poppa!
Peace.
Bob
One of the highlights of the weekend was taking them to Crown Center, here in Kansas City. Crown Center is an upscale shopping mall, with a whole lot more in the surrounding area. In the winter, there is an outdoor skating rink, while in the summer, they have a fountain that shoots out of the ground. Kids of all ages can run through the jets of water, including "Gramma Robin", who showed Savannah and Katelynn the proper way to get wet in a fountain. (Hint: If you aren't completely soaked, you're doing it wrong!)
I was manning the camera, and got to capture their joy. Their cries of, "Watch me, Poppa!" rang out over the whooshing and splashing of the water, and I would aim the camera in their direction and try to catch them in the frame. It wasn't easy.
Later on, we had a picnic in the backyard. I was keeping the girls out of Robin's hair while she got our dinner ready, and the girls were playing on the plastic yard equipment. Savannah kept showing me her new trick.
"Watch me, Poppa!" I assured her I was watching, and she would shoot head-first down the slide.
Time and time again: "Watch me, Poppa!"
After they were tucked in bed, I reflected on her actions. Why did she keep asking me to watch her? Was she afraid she was going to get hurt? Was she just so proud of her new-found ability that she had to show me over and over?
At first, I thought, "How childish."
But then I realized how wrong I was.
After all, we all have something inside us that craves attention. We all have a desire to show off to others. I think part of it is just to remind the world that we are alive, that we are here. We all want to leave our mark.
Some go out and win gold medals in the Olympics. Others create visual masterpieces on canvas with paint. Still others create fountains that kids can run through. Some of us write novels and record podcasts.
But more than just leaving a mark, a brief reminder of our existence, I think all of us have a need to make sure that Someone is watching. We want to know our Creator hasn't forgotten us. We want to hear God telling us He is proud of us.
So we do whatever it is He has asked us to do. We exercise the gifts and talents He has given us. And even whatever we do has the ability to entertain and bless others, deep down inside, I think our spirits are crying out to God: Watch me, Poppa!
Peace.
Bob
