Enjoy One Degree of Separation

I have 7 grandchildren that range in age from 17 years old to 6 months old. Over Memorial Day weekend, I got to spend time with Ezekiel, who is 4, and Malachi, who is 2. We were up at Lake Erie, and we went looking for turtles, skipped rocks into the lake, rode on a golf cart, and ate popsicles. Most of it was just normal fun things you do with kids their age. Until we rode the elevator. For some reason, as soon as the door closed, they both laid down on their backs on the floor of the elevator like they were looking up at the stars at night. I asked them why they were lying down, and they didn't seem to know, but they were both fully committed. The elevator stopped on the way down, and another passenger stepped in. He looked to be in his early 20's. I looked at him, he looked at the boys, and then looked at me as if expecting an explanation. I had none to give, and I realized I was OK with that. I think if I was 30 years younger and they were my own kids, I would have told them to get up and stammered through some explanation like they must have learned that from their mother's side. But I'm the grandfather, and that means I have one degree of separation. So I just looked at the 20 year old and smiled and shrugged my shoulders. Ezekiel and Malachi stayed prostrate, smiling, until the door opened on the first floor, and they jumped up and headed out. They seemed pretty confident that they were riding an elevator the way the inventor intended little kids to ride it. I just enjoyed the one degree of separation. That's my new motto. It might just be the key to being the grandfather I really want to be.

Pastor Joe