Several years ago, oh maybe three and a half or so, we had taken our granddaughter to church. I’d say she was around three years of age. We knew it would be challenging to have a three year old sit still, but our church has a children’s moment after opening hymns and announcements, at which time the children gather at the altar for a teachable moment with the Children’s Church Director. Selena doesn’t have a shy bone in her body and would look forward to that special time.  As we sat waiting for the church service to begin, George, our Choir Director, or maybe it was Frances, our pianist, began playing the processional music … something beautiful that begins to calm your busy mind and worried soul from all of life’s concerns. I am certain, as always, that it was as special of a musical arrangement as they are special. As the music began, Pastor Ricky, dressed in his pastoral robe, began processing in and Selena looked up, looked over at her Granddaddy wide eyed and whispered … “Is that God?!” Boy was it difficult to keep a straight face. I tried to think about it through her eyes and I suppose a three year old might think a man in a robe in church could be God or Jesus.

Another Sunday, maybe a year or so later, we decided to let her sit with us through the entire church service. As she sat quietly coloring, the minister was discussing the scripture lesson for the morning and I so wish I could remember the scripture but as he was explaining it, he asked the congregation, ” Do you see the irony in this?” Selena stopped coloring and looked around the church, went back to coloring and then muttered under her breath … “Nope. Don’t see it.” Well now! Nope, don’t suppose her little eyes could “see it”.

Then her mama tells the story how she recently had some important papers she needed to shred. Everett (SK’s “Dad”) decided to just be done with it and have a bonfire. Apparently a copy of the Methodist devotional, The Upper Room, was also in the box. Selena freaked out and said … “Oh my gosh! You’re burning Jesus!!!” (She is six years old now.)

And then there was the story Amy (SK’s mommy) reported about Selena attending  a Baptist church with her Aunt Sissy and when they asked her in Sunday School how do you get to Heaven, Selena said without batting an eye … “You DIE!” That didn’t go over so well. I do believe the Baptists were looking for the answer “You accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior”. Why do I know this? Because me and Teri Chappell were saved by Robin Tarpley, Angie Williams and Valicia Durden when we were 17 years old at Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. The Reverend Ronnie Spillers dunked us on a cold January night in 1976. I assure you the Baptist Sunday School teacher was not expecting a child to say you gotta die to get to Heaven.

Anyway, Selena spent several days with us during her recent Spring Break. She and I were discussing Easter. She told me how excited she was for Easter to get here! Thinking she would say because the Easter bunny comes … isn’t that what all children find exciting about Easter? So I asked why she liked Easter and she smiled and said …” Because Jesus comes down from the cross!” Wow. Just wow. And just God. I thought my goodness, how touching and special but then she added … “And its Valentines Day!” Uh oh. Houston we gots a problem. And she was doing pretty good there for a moment! Well, we had to have a teachable moment but we got it all straightened out … or so I thought.

Yes, Easter is always a fun time with her. The year she was two it was pouring rain outside. We hid sixty five plastic eggs inside the house. She had her little basket and she would look around, find an egg, squeal with glee and then say “more eggs!” and then she would find another and say “and a more eggs!” I told her she had hit the jackpot and she said … “pee pot!” 😳 (What did I expect coming from a potty training toddler?)

For some reason she is stuck on Valentines Day, though, because during her recent visit I took her to Funky Fleur de Lis where we painted pottery. Oh my. She chose a tea pot to paint for her momma. It was so sweet. She had her own ideas and I wasn’t so sure she had not taken on too big of a project for a six year old. I patiently tried to offer suggestions for colors to paint but she knew exactly what she wanted to do. When I tried to touch up spots she wasn’t happy. So I told her I was smoothing it out. Well that was okay then, she said. She and I discussed I would pick up the finished product as it had to be put into a kiln to make the paint and glaze stick. That was a bit above her level of comprehension. Anyway, she said she was gonna give it to her momma for Mothers Day. Good idea. But then she looks at me and says, “Wait! Isn’t Mothers Day Valentines Day?” Um, no ma’am. I adore her with every fiber of my being, but after four days of her energetic, no napping, didn’t want to go to sleep at night because she missed her mommy, I was just too tired to straighten out the confusion regarding all the holidays in a calendar year. I gave up and decided  to let her mommy help her get the rest of the year straight. I mean after all, a Grandy can’t do everything in four days time. 😉

There are so many more what I call SKisms … funny, out of the mouth of babes sayings that I will share another day. But for now I’m just too busy, way too busy trying to help her understand this Easter thing. I mean we have palms and donkeys and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday coming up. I’ve got my work cut out for me! But I can do it! I’m confident! Happy Valentines Day  … err … I mean … Easter … to all!