The Lord Has Done Great Things

Psalm 125:2
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

Two weeks ago, my husband, Danny, and I baby sit for our granddaughter, Virginia Rose.  We have her all to ourselves!  And, oh, what fun we have!

Virginia loves to be outdoors, and we have a perfect spring day for it.  She checks out the old chair I placed outside so I can sit comfortably while photographing squirrels and birds.

She picks up sticks and hands them to us to chunk into the piles of pine straw and leaf debris along the edges of our yard.

What a fun way to clean up our mossy lawn!

When she seems to grow weary of this activity, Danny has an idea.

"Virginia, let's see what's under these rocks.  Maybe, I can find you a roly-poly."

Of course, she has no idea what a roly-poly is, but the prospect of her Papa lifting up some big rocks intrigues her.  You can read all about her fascination with rocks here.  I try not to show how grossed out I am by the swarms of white, wiggly bugs underneath more than one stone.  I don't want to negatively influence Virginia's perceptions or dampen her curiosity.  

When Danny pries up the fourth rock, success!  He retrieves a roly-poly and places on Virginia's arm.  Her face beams!

"Tickle," she says as the tiny creature explores her skin.

We decide it's time to go back inside so Virginia can have a drink and a snack.  While she's at the table, I get out her drawing pad and crayons.  She knows her colors and loves to scribble as you can see here.

The sunny face I make for Virginia is not without her input.  For every feature, she points to her own mouth, eyes, nose, hair, and ears, telling me how the face should look!

When she's had enough coloring, Virginia slips off the chair and heads for the closet where we keep a few toys for her.  She retrieves the cars Danny has given her, ones his boys played with many years ago, and brings them to the table.  I sit opposite from her, prepared for the volley which will shortly ensue.

Zoom!  Incoming!  I deftly catch the hurtling car, turn it, and send it flying back to Virginia.  She captures it and returns it speedily.  We are laughing at the car's antics and the way we are keeping it from falling off the table.

Then, Virginia changes up the game.  I send a car careening her way.  She lets it fall off the table!

"Oh, no!"  I explain, hands to my face which expresses an exaggerated look of disbelief.  And, I scurry with a humorous gait (think Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks) to rescue it.  That's when the laughter erupts with volcanic intensity!

Virginia is hysterical!  She keeps up this game because she is enjoying every minute of my reactions.  Every moment of laughter which leaves our sides aching and our souls filled.

Then, I hear these sweet words from the sweetest girl in the world:  "Gammie, you funny!"

Indeed, in Virginia, the Lord has done great things for me . . .

~

When is the last time you laughed so hard your sides ached? :)

Will you pray with me?

We thank You, Father, for the gifts of laughter and joy.  How they fill our hearts with song!  How they fill our souls with delight!  May we rejoice in You always and treasure all the gifts You give.  Amen.