The lady was describing her recent Southern California vacation to some friends at the table.
“I think I saw 23 baseball games in 10 days.”
“That sounds just dreadful,” her friend replied. “It seems like your family could have taken you somewhere more pleasant than a succession of dusty baseball fields.”
“Oh, no,” the lady smiled. “Those days were great. I enjoyed the chance to honor and encourage my grandson.”
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A winter trip to San Diego is supposed to include the beach, the zoo, and maybe some golf. The whole family could also stay at a San Diego Luxury Hotel and indulge in some pampering. A little pool time, nice restaurants, perhaps some shopping-that’s what good families do when Grandma comes to town.
But this lady understood the trip wasn’t about changing routines to accommodate her. In fact, it wasn’t about her at all. She used two words to completely shift the focus of the trip.
Honor and encourage.
She didn’t show up expecting to be entertained or pampered. She wanted to be part of her family’s life for a few days. More than that, she wanted to add something.
She wanted to serve.
That kid obviously played in lots of baseball games. But having Grandma show up, day after day, to sit in the sun and cheer and eat hot dogs-I’ll bet that was special, even if he was too cool to acknowledge it.
I’ll bet he felt honored and encouraged.
And the really fun part for me was watching her tell her slightly stuffy friends about it. They thought she missed out on golf and shopping.
She knows bleachers are the kinds of places you create precious memories and lasting impact.
Maybe the experience doesn’t need to change. Maybe I just need a better word or two to change my perspective.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
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