Sharon Kinsey's Blog

A few days ago, our daughter-in-law, Tracy, called from Boston to say that they wanted to come out for a short visit after Christmas. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the Boston Kinseys and her words filled us with incredible joy. Those of us in Valpo weren’t sure this could happen this year – our oldest grandson, Jack, had suffered a pretty awful injury in a college rugby game that required complex surgery of his lower leg. No weight-bearing for weeks, lots of therapy, crutches – all stuff that complicates a plane trip halfway across the country. However, he is healing nicely and after almost 6 weeks, he has returned to his university to finish up his classes and take finals. So, Jack will be wearing a boot and following his exercise routine, but we’ll all get to hug him in person and celebrate Christmas together. 

Last night, I was mentally planning menus and thinking about where everyone would sleep when I started to remember the days when we had seven little ones, ages 10 months to 7 years cruising, toddling, climbing, skipping, and running through the house. It was mind-boggling. In the words of Maurice Sendak, “Let the wild rumpus begin!” They were always so excited to see each other that the noise level was deafening. Each evening we’d shovel the mess into piles, clean up the kitchen, and climb into bed, only to repeat the same process the next day. We handled things pretty well (except for the night our furnace caught fire and five firefighters tromped through the house in snowy boots… but that’s a story for another day).

In the words of Dr. Joyce Brothers, “Becoming a grandparent is a second chance… you have a chance to put to use all the things you learned the first time around and may have made a mistake on. It’s all love and no discipline. There’s no thorn in this rose.” I think about this a lot. Although we do correct our grands, what we mostly do is stand back in wonder – Wow! These humans are so creative, funny, resilient, curious, and kind. We chose to let their parents be the “bad guys” most of the time. What made us cringe with our own boys, makes us smile and laugh out loud as grandparents.

Tina Krause, a free-lance writer from Bethlehem, once wrote in her column, “I believe that God’s character is a combination of a loving parent, administering discipline and direction – and a gentle grandparent, applauding our smallest accomplishments, underscoring our talents, and smiling with delight.” I recall tearfully going to a beloved Director of Christian Education back in Bethlehem when I was a frustrated young mother. Our three little boys were exhausting. I was a loving mom; but some nights, when I put them to bed after “one of those days,” I wondered if I’d said anything loving to them all day.” Sweet Mary Roberts, also the mother of boys, said she always kept Ephesians 6:4 up on her refrigerator: Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children… rather bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves. It was up on my refrigerator for years, a tattered reminder to minimize faults, pick my battles, and celebrate individuality more often, first with our boys, then my students, and now the grands. “And a little child will lead them,” reads Isaiah 11:6. 

Wishing you all many Christmas blessings – may you feel the love and light of a God who walks beside us every day.

Sharon Kinsey