December 4 – “Go Daddy, go”

I was just skimming through the rest of the photos from Jachin’s birthday party the other day.  Since the one of Josiah licking the birthday cake was posted and inspired some remarks about allegedly irresponsible grandparents, I thought I’d better double check the rest of them to see if I could in any way be blamed for anything else. 

One of the pictures reminded me of the candle lighting experience.  All the kids were finally assembled around the table, Jachin in the center on one side with the cake in front of him.  Cameras were flashing as Mommy tried her best to arrange the best pose.  And part of that arranging meant finding a place for Josiah to squeeze in.  Gotta have a place for the little guy.  He ended up standing on a chair right next to Jachin.  Prime real estate, and he knew it.  Unable to believe his incredibly lucky placement, he carefully took in the lay of the land around him.  As his Daddy began to light the candle he leaned forward along with everyone else in the room, anxious to be in the best position to see the explosion of air and moisture that would then extinguish the blaze and signal the beginning of the best part of the afternoon – time to eat cake. 

Unfortunately, Daddy had a bit of trouble getting the candles lit.  Not a big deal, but he was moving too slow.  A chuckle here and a scraping of a chair there.  To his credit, Daddy never gave up.  After all, he was using one of those gas powered grill lighters, so he was in no danger of flame reaching his fingertips.  Ah, for the good old days of wooden kitchen matches and those paper collectible matchbooks.  Lots more opportunity for inadvertent “excitement.”  Speaking of excitement, the natives were getting restless.  Josiah seemed to sense that his Daddy might be getting a bit frustrated and embarrassed.  His eyes darted to the left and to the right.  And an idea came to him.  Leaning as far forward as he could get so as to get the most effective response, he began to chant slowly, “Go Daddy, go.  Go Daddy, go.”  Almost instantly the mantra infected the lips of others, “Go Daddy, go.  Go Daddy, go.”  All of the kids joined in.  “Go Daddy, go.  Go Daddy, go.”  And many of the adults, “Go Daddy, go.  Go Daddy, go.”  It felt like a football game right at kick off when everyone is so intent on what is coming that they can hardly stand it.  “Go Daddy, go.  Go Daddy, go.”  And finally he did it.  The candles were lit.  The mission was successful.  The cheers flew forth amidst much laughter.  The tradition would continue. 

And Josiah smiled knowingly, wise beyond his years in the art of Daddy encouragement.

Psalms 42:11 says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Father, thank you for models of encouragement that burst forth from the mouths of two-year-olds.  Amen.