Yesterday [July 4th] we packed up the grandkids and headed to Saugatuck, one of our favorite places to go and watch the Freedom Day parade. Its not a big parade, its not even a very fancy parade, but its a parade that has become a family tradition ever since our first visit there when our 7yr old granddaughter Marilyn was just a baby in a stroller! So minutes before the parade was ready to start, our kids and grandkids, along with Gram found a street corner flower box to sit on. It was the perfect spot as the parade made its first turn and there weren't a bunch of other kids to compete for candy right close by.
Some time back in history it became a tradition that when the kids would see candy being tossed into the crowd they would stand up and cheer so that the coming paraders would toss candy their way ..... you should have seen Marilyn and her four year brother Neil, they were a cheering section all themselves, with little two yr. old Ross raising his little arms from time to time. I'd sure like to experience that excitement in worship some time.
Beside them there was a young mom and dad with their two year old, who had never been to the parade sitting right beside them .... he didn't stand a chance of beating out Marilyn or Neil in getting candy, even candy thrown right in front of him. But then I noticed something that would bring tears to any grandparents eyes .. Marilyn & Neil would take turns picking up candy and taking it over and giving to the little boy!! Later I found out that the little boy's parents would let Marilyn & Neil keep the hard candy, so they began giving the little boy extra pieces of soft candy.
Now Marilyn & Neil each came away from that parade with plastic gallon bags over half full ... and the little boy's parents said to my kids, 'this was such a great experience, let's meet next year at the same time, same place!' I don't know if this will happen, but I do know my grand kids had a Christlike influence on that young couple, and they in turn got more candy than at the parade last year. I'm already looking forward to next years Saugatuck 4th of July parade ... maybe I'll take along a plastic gallon bag??? Sometimes its more than sharing what you already have, its sharing what you're receiving, which can often be more sacrificial.
HIS peace
ptimm
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Nothing beats a summer parade, followed by ice cream cones, especially when you're a small kid.
ReplyDeleteCheers.