January 2 – “Deadlocked”

            After numerous failed attempts to determine a game to play that all would be satisfied with, the grandkids decided to take a vote.  Sadly, it ended up in a 2-2 tie among the boys.  Jachin convinced Caleb to side with him in favor of race cars.  Zakary and Micah stood together in an unbreakable bloc in favor of Legos.  The adults were no help.  All they said was “Work it out.”  What could they possibly do to compromise their way through this deadlock.  Suddenly a thought occurred to Jachin.  There was one other cousin around they hadn’t yet polled.  Before one of the opponents could think of it, Jachin hurried off to find Cailyn.  Surely he could woo her with his eldest-cousin charm.  And so it came down to this: Cailyn for the tie-breaker. 

            Jachin oh-so-sweetly asked, “Hey, Cailyn, do you want to play race cars (with a big smile) or Legos (accompanied by a telling frown)?”

            Cailyn was thrilled to be included at last.  But she is, after all, a first born in her own right.  She took her time.  She went to her own bag of Christmas goodies and rummaged through it.  By this time the other three boys realized what was happening and had gathered around, waiting with baited breath.  Basking in the newfound attention, Cailyn finally replied, “Well, I have a tea party.”

            That came out of nowhere.  Jachin was stunned speechless as she calmly began setting up the tiny cups and saucers.  Perhaps sensing the inevitable end result of the matter, Micah and Zakary and Caleb decided that a tea party might not be so bad. 

            Guess what they did next?  They had a cousins’ tea party.  Ah the power of a beautiful woman.  Learn your lesson well, young padawans.  They only grow more powerful with age.

Psalms 52:8-9 says, “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.  I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.  I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”

Father, help these youngsters grow to flourish in your house.  Amen.