Grandparents and children are fun to watch anytime. As I watched two unrelated grandparents in different settings deal with the struggle for emotional wrenching efforts control, I was struck by their patience, endurance, and ability to stayed focused.
In the first, a young boy did not want to let his grandfather leave. It was morning commute time. The usually busy elevator was filled with just one, me. Given there are not many westerners in the building (I think I am the only one), when a child sees me, s/he is usually distracted for a time. Today it was as if I was not there! It was as if the child had heard the psalmist calling, “Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way,” (Psalm 119.37) and was committed to the course.
First came the cries and begging. This was followed by elephant tears and tugging on the grandfather’s arm. The child was holding on, even as the grandfather struggled to get in the elevator door. Mom watched helplessly, not knowing what should or needed to be done.
Moment later the second scene played out on the small play space next to the apartment building. It appeared that the time for playing had come to an end, at least for the grandparent. It was obvious to any watching that there were two views. The grandparent wanted, needed to leave. The child desperately wanted to stay. Emotions and demonstrations ran high on both sides! For what seemed an eternity watching, everything was in the balance.
The break in scene one came when the grandfather paused, picked the child up, looked deep into his eyes as he wrapped his arms around him tightly, and whispered, “I will be back, soon!”
The boy’s teary response ensured it was a committed deal, “Ok, I trust you.”
In scene two, the ultimate distraction came in the promise of a stop to the dessert and drink shop within site. It was an offer that could not be resisted!
Everyone’s shoes were familiar. In their cases, the diversions worked.
