The Excellent Way #8
Grandma’s delicious evening meal
…of mashed potatoes with gravy and meat balls quickly disappeared as four extra hungry fishing contest participants filled their plates and took seconds. Weston won the best manners award. He thanked grandma first and often as he ate. The others, including grandpa caught on and their thanks joined those offered first by Weston. Grandpa looked across the table as Weston was eating. There was deep pride in his eyes as he watched his young grandson enjoying his meal. He said what was on his mind.
“Weston, we don’t have such a thing-but you win the manners contest! No one else comes close!”
Noah nodded. Boone gave grandpa a thumb’s up and grandma leaned over and gave Weston a warm side hug. Everything was good until the hug. Even though Weston would have preferred a slight pat on the shoulder, he didn’t complain. His good manners were consistent. He even thanked grandma for the hug! None of the other fishing contestants said a word. They knew Weston deserved the extra attention; good manners were important to all of them. Weston was just better at using them.
Grandpa fell asleep on the couch not long after supper.
He slept with his mouth open, but did not snore. He woke up to Boone, Noah and Weston discussing the fishing contest earlier in the day. Boone was doing his best to rearrange the contest winner. He was still arguing that his six-inch northern pike was worth 5 points. Boone concluded his argument with these words”
“I would be the winner by three points. The score would be 19 to 16.”
Grandpa listened without saying a word. Weston and Boone were both quiet for a few moments. It was Noah’s response that ended the discussion and left Boone without a come-back.
“Boone, you don’t want to win this way. You know that tiny northern can’t be counted as a fish. It was barely beyond fingerling size. No, Boone you want to be the clear winner, not the just barely winner. There will be another contest. Right Weston?”
Grandpa did not say another word. Weston took the conversation.
“You know Boone, I’ve always thought you were the best fisherman in our family. I still think that way. And Noah, I agree, there should be another fishing contest-even this summer.”
Boone just smiled and said, “I guess you are both right.”
It wasn’t long before the fresh air and full stomachs caught up with each of the boys. Though none of them would admit it, all of them were tired. Weston gave in to sleep first. “Goodnight grandpa, ‘night Boone and Noah, I’m going to bed. I’m a little tired I think.”
When Boone went downstairs to the bedroom, he shared with Weston to get his toothbrush, he found Weston already snoring. He never moved. Boone backed out of the room with his toothbrush and realized he was tired too. He was in bed just minutes later. Noah found himself alone in the downstairs family room. He tried to play a final video game but soon found his eyes drooping too. He was in bed five minutes after Boone and Weston. Upstairs, grandpa had just told grandma goodnight. He brushed his teeth and was snoring again within five minutes. This time, however, he was in bed-for the night. If any of the afternoon fishing contest participants had sweet dreams, none of them could remember. All of them were soundly asleep. Sunshine, fresh and the excitement of fishing made for sweet dreams. Boone would verify it in the morning.
The next morning was Sunday. Grandpa and grandma were up at their usual times.
Six AM for grandpa, just 5 or ten minutes later for grandma. Grandpa made the coffee. He and grandma drank it while they read the Bible. Grandpa read in the kitchen, closer to the coffee. Grandma read in the living room where see could view the new day out the picture window to the north. They agreed to let the boys sleep. They also agreed to wake the boys in time for them to get ready for worship at church. As grandparents, it was a priority for them to guide their grandchildren to understand that God is the Creator of the World. They believed God also provided a way to save the world from its greatest problem-sin. They believed Jesus died for the sins of the world. They didn’t make any apologies for their beliefs. Neither did they force them on anyone, even their grandsons. Grandpa and grandma knew God didn’t force Himself on anyone. But as grandparents, they could use their influence to nudge their grandsons to faith in God.
They did.
They let the boys sleep until an hour and a half before church. Grandpa gave the wake-up call. Sarah, Boone and Noah’s younger sister helped. Her enthusiastic personality enabled grandpa and grandma to get all three boys up-in time for breakfast, showers and getting ready to go to church. When the boys heard Sarah’s bright call, none of them wanted to disappoint her. Besides, all three of them knew Sarah could use her sharp wit to speak words that would rouse any sleepy person. All three got up. No one chose to start a word fight with Sarah.
Grandpa’s pickup had six seats. His car had just five. They drove the pickup to church. They weren’t the only ones. The farmers and builders of the church congregation would often drive their pickups to church. Weston counted them as they found a parking spot.
“Grandpa, counting yours and grandma’s pickup, there are 22 pickups here at church.”
That brought a smile to grandma’s face.