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I wrote an essay one time entitled, what "I Have Learned about God from my Granddaughter". It seems that the lesson continues, but the title needs to be changed to, "What I Have Learned about God from My Grandchildren."

When Reese was my only grandchild, I always told her she was my favorite. Hudson came along and I decided that he is my favorite too. And then Gwendolyn arrived and there is no doubt that she is my favorite. I have learned that I can have as many favorites as my kids decide to have grandchildren.

I have always told Sara that she is my favorite daughter. She grouses, "I am your only daughter!". To which I reply, "So what?" I also have two favorite sons.

In the book The Shack the character that represents God speaks of people who are not quite the picture of righteous living by saying "I am particularly fond of that boy!" That story helped me to understand that God has just over six billion favorites. Each of us is the absolute apple of his eye.

I am not putting myself on the same level as Him, but I learned that if He can have that many favorites then I can handle quite a few myself. I have lots of favorite nieces and nephews, favorite coworkers, and one very favorite wife.

Try it. When you look at your son, daughter, husband, wife,_______(fill in the blank) say to yourself, or tell them, this one is my favorite. It can only do good.

Rescued

I don't know how it works. Sometimes you just get a hunch--a feeling that something is not right and you need to stop. Where does that come from? Is it a subliminal mental activity? Is it a spiritual interaction? I don't know.

Last week I was doing my job. My team and I had been working on a very complex project and had received instructions on how to make the transactions. We finally got all the pieces lined up and I authorized my operations manager to proceed. As soon as she walked out of my office, I had a start. I was uncomfortable with the instruction. I called another advisor working on the project with us and asked for clarification on the tax impact of the transaction. I discovered that if we proceeded it would result in just under a hundred thousand dollars in taxes that we were trying to avoid.

I walked into the other room and had the transaction stopped. All of this took place in the space of about 30 minutes. We had been working on the project for weeks. Why then? Why did I think of the possible issue then?

My client told me I must have a little angel watching over me. I replied, "In my work, I need several really big angels to keep us out of trouble."

Winners and Winners.

One of my favorite things to do is to play games with my family. This week we were blessed to have Sara, Emrys and Gwendolyn with us to enjoy the holidays. We played cards, we played liars dice, and we played board games. I lost every game. I am not complaining, not whining although I was falsely accused of such. I told the kids when they left that they know where they can come to win games. I am the winner as long as they keep coming.

I remember when Sara and my Dad would team up to play cards they seemed to be unbeatable. When we played cards with Mom and Dad, Dad would annoy my mother by counting out the cards she dealt to him, deliberately and methodically--one at a time--and she would let him know of her displeasure.

I remember the time when cousin Vicki was losing badly at a board game. She took the board and flipped it over ending the game--a move known in the annals of our family as "Pulling a Vicki". (Vicki to this day denies the incident in spite of numerous eye witnesses.)

I remember watching TV while playing Skip-Bo with my sister and the crew. I would be focused on a football game and would only look back to the game when my turn came. Sis would whine profusely when I would win without paying attention--much to my delight.

When I was a boy, I remember my father and his brothers sitting around the dinette set in Uncle Ed's house playing dominos, smoking cigarettes, talking and laughing, the cloud of tobacco smoke forming a haze near the ceiling of the kitchen. It was a different time.

My brother and I and our friends would go to the fire station late at night with our friends and play dominoes until time to go home. The night life in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma was spectacular.

When family and friends gather around a table to eat, to play there are only winners.

Inauguration

I want to thank (or blame) Sara and Emrys who have inspired and entertained me for years with their saga. I read it faithfully. I am following your example, though I do not expect to reach your stature as bloggers.

I have kept a journal for years, but it has been a private one. I have decided that now that I approach the threshold of geezer-dom, that I will publish my thoughts here for whomever would like to see them.

My sister told me after she turned 50 that the great thing about being older is that you can say whatever you want because you really don't care what others may think. I agree with that to some degree. I believe that if we knew how much others actually think about us, it would not matter to us what they think.

If you care to dialogue--welcome. If not--welcome.

Da Grandad

Great Things and Small Things

The spousal unit and I went to see Invictus on Christmas Eve.

Going to the movies on Christmas Eve is a family tradition that began in our effort to keep our three child units away from the wrapped presents under the Christmas tree. We were not a "Santa on Christmas Morning" kind of house, much to the dismay of a few of my relatives. Rather, we created a tradition of going to a movie together, going out for dinner, then opening presents one by one and stretching the evening into the night. Each person after opening a gift would then retrieve a gift for someone else and we all watched as they discovered the treasure inside. Everyone celebrated each others gift--a good tradition indeed.

Back to the movie. Invictus is the story of Nelson Mandela and his early time as president of South Africa. I will not spoil the movie by reviewing it here. It is a must see for anyone who appreciates the ability of one person who through the power of faith and forgiveness changes the course of history. Enough said.

While we were in the movie I received a call from Tanya, the Hospice volunteer coordinator. In checking the message after the movie I was informed that one of the Hospice clients was alone on Christmas Eve, her husband unable to travel to the nursing home after dark. Katherine was "actively dying", a hospice term for a client that has taken a turn toward the inevitable end. Tanya asked if we could go and sit with Katherine for a time. I said yes.

At the nursing home we sat. Katherine slept. We talked. She slept. We left.

Christmas morning in the shower, I meditated on the day before. (It seems that hot running water inspires me.) I thought of Nelson Mandela. I admired the great accomplishments of one man standing against enormous opposition. I wondered if I would ever achieve great things. I thought probably not.

Then that still small voice that I have know from my childhood was in my thoughts. "Great things please men. Small things please me." I am sure that our Creator is more than pleased with the greatness of Nelson Mandela. It is comforting to know at Christmas that He also is pleased with what we are able to do for the least of these among us.

Merry Christmas.