This weekend my little church hosted our annual "Friendship Feast" after Sunday morning services. It's where we bring our Senior Adults together with our children and they have lunch together. They get their pictures taken with their prayer partners for the year. I'm not sure who enjoys it more, the adults, the children, or the rest of us standing by and quietly watching. For me, I am just so thankful to God for bringing such wonderful people into my familys life.
One man in particular is Mr. John, but to most of the children he is Papa John. He has atleast 30 "grandchildren" in our church and he has a hug and a word of encouragement for all of them. Mr. John is not in the greatest of health, mostly due to his age, but he is always smiling, always asks how you are doing and then listens for the real answer. We try to go visit Mr. John at his home as often as we can, always bringing some little goodie to leave in his kitchen for later. He spends time showing us more pictures of his family, pictures that he painted when he was younger, a lone stuffed animal that sits in the corner that belonged to his son. He will find something that he can't remember where he got it, but wants to know if I've ever seen anything like it. He has an old wooden swing on his front porch and 2 more chairs that invite you to sit down and stay awhile.
Mostly I am thankful to God for giving my daughter an example of what's truly important in life. Spending time with those we love, slowing down long enough to show them that we care and that they are important, no matter what age.
So today, I share with you my friend Mr. John Green, my daughter Jessica (on the right) and my good friends granddaughter Abby (age 4).
