The sound of a living room full of 18-year-old boys playing round after round of a game is what’s within earshot tonight. Cheers of celebration, heartfelt laughing and friendly joking.
For us as parents, it’s a time of transition in life. Transitioning into learning how to parent adult children. One out the house, one about to get married (and currently in Africa), and one planning to move out within the year, by the grace of God. That will leave us with two for a short time and then poof…transition will come again. Every season seems long til it’s not.
So, what do I do on nights like these? Say thank you. Thank you, Jesus, for a living room full of young men who have dreams and destinies to fulfill. Thank you for gracing us with the gift of a full house. Thank you, Jesus, for this brief moment in time that will come and go but bonds will remain.
And the way I say thank you to the Lord is to fire up the oven, grab some slice and bake cookies and cook them for some hungry, hungry 18 year old hippos.
P.S. I love my husband. I can’t take credit for the idea of hospitality. It was his idea to get dessert. And he helped shove them all onto two trays when we should have used four. Think they cared? Nope.
As parents, we have a motto in life. Say yes. Say yes as often as you can. Why? Because life goes by fast, even though the seasons seem long. Say yes when your son says, “Hey, can the guys come over tonight?” Say yes when sometimes it feels inconvenient. Say yes when it’s hard, you’re already tired or it doesn’t fit into your timeframe of chillin’ on the couch. My husband is the best at this. He has a servant’s heart and loves to serve his family and we are the beneficiaries.
All that to say, imperfect cookies don’t matter. An open door does. So, say yes. Show hospitality. Be a safe place. The time is short. Seasons don’t last forever. Soon they’ll take flight and might not be so close to home to come to dinner…(clearing throat)… Africa.
So, Jesus, receive my thanks by the sweet-smelling aroma of slice and bake cookies. We love you and appreciate this unexpected gift tonight. Amen.
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