I love cupcakes, don’t you? But a cupcake without a layer of scrumptious icing just isn’t finished. I’m not implying the work of parenting is incomplete, but the day to day work of parenting is overwhelming, mine-boggling, energy-draining work. I compare those early years of parenting to the nuts and bolts of making cupcakes—a basic foundation to build upon.
By the time parents get the kids off to school, make it to work themselves, then race home to face mountains of chores and homework before bedtime, the day’s work can be compared to baking a basic cupcake. A completed day, but a no-added-frill one.
Grandparents have time and experience to add layers of yummy frosting to their grandkids’ lives. This sweet balance of relational love and responsibility causes kiddos to blossom in the deliciousness of their grandparents’ unique love—learning to love their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ just like Mimi and Papa do.
“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them…” (Psalm 127:3-5 NAS)
DiAne Gates writes for children, young adults, and non-fiction for adults through her blogs, http://dianegates.wordpress.com/ and www.floridagirlturnedtexan.wordpress.com. She writes monthly articles for Christian online magazine, Crosswalk.com. Freelance artist and photographer, she also facilitates a GriefShare support group. August of 2015, ROPED, DiAne’s award winning, first western adventure series released, and the second book, TWISTED, released by Pelican Book Group July 14, 2017. UNTIED, is her work in progress.
Wife, mother, and Mimi, whose passion is to share those hard life lessons God allows to conform us to the image of His Son.
http://www.amazon.com/Roped-DiAne-Gates-ebook/dp/B0147NL6KS
http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-DiAne-N-Gates-ebook/dp/B073PVHJGY
Photo Credit: ©Thinkstock/YakobchukOlena