I’m like most of you in that I get up each day and have a lot to be thankful for.
Even though nobody likes getting older, my wife and I do claim one major blessing from age and that is to see more-and-more children around us—that would be kids and now the grandkids.
Grandchildren are exactly like children in this respect: Each one is so very different from the others. It’s amazing to see how God makes each person so unique with different characteristics, personalities, interests. You name one kid and it is easy to rattle off a list of their individual character traits
One of our grandchildren is my 9-year-old Reagan and one of her best characteristics is the love she shows to everyone. I know many of you have grandkids who are very loving, but trust me, Reagan is quite special in that regard.
From a young age, when she hugs me or anyone else, she has this rush of adrenaline and practically snaps your neck the way she squeezes you. We used to think it was on purpose, but actually, I don’t think she can help it. God put an amazing love for others in this little girl and we are so fortunate to be the benefactors of it.
Even though she is becoming best friends with my wife—Reagan is calling more often and saying “Mimi, can you pick me up and we can go do something?”—Reagan and I have our little things together as well. For instance, I have always played basketball with the kids and now the grandkids. She never was one to be overly interested in sports, but several months ago she wanted to learn to play basketball and asked, “Will you teach me Papa?”
Naturally, the answer was yes, and now she makes a point to call or bring it up when she comes here on Tuesday during our deadline days. So, we’ve been doing that together a lot and she is quickly getting better, not to mention the fact I like any of the kids getting exercise and doing something besides video games.
A couple of weeks ago Reagan told me that a school club she had joined, “Girls on the Run,” was wrapping up their school program and had a 5k planned.
“Papa, will you run in it with me?” she asked.
Trust me, I wasn’t the only one she asked, but she knew I walked in the neighborhood most days and try to do my own share of exercise, so as usual, I said, “sure, honey.”
This past Saturday I picked her up and we headed to Salmen High where about 150 kids, mostly girls, were ready to take the track. I was under the impression it was more of a walk, which did turn out to be true, but as quickly as we all got on the track to start, these girls all took off as fast as they could run. Eventually the fast running turned to fast walking, then a slower pace until they had energy to run again.
Not realizing Reagan would take off with the rest of them, I had not even stretched at all to begin. But when your granddaughter wants you to do something with her, by golly I was going to try my best, so off I went, running as hard as I could and praying to God I didn’t hear anything snap.
Reagan eventually slowed down, as did most all the girls, and we then walked/ran the 5K in a very respectable time, I told her.
The exercise didn’t matter that much. The important thing was that I said “yes” to my granddaughter, who very clearly wanted someone in her family to tackle the 5K with her. And that was kind of my thing, so I did.
It reminds me about something I heard a preacher on the radio say. He talked about how often parents or grandparents get into this habit of telling kids “no” so often for things they ask for, or things they are doing. “Stop that!” or “Watch Out!” You know what I mean, it seems to be natural.
The preacher said that we should always try to find a way to say “yes” or “sure you can do that” to kids, rather than the “no” they hear so often.
I’m trying to do that with the kids because the day might come that they don’t ask me to do things, or maybe I am no longer able to do things as I once did.
And if that day comes, which I hope it does not, I want to know I had a whole lot of “yes” answers for them.
And as for the 5K, I never did hear anything snap.
Kevin Chiri can be reached by e-mail at kevinchiri@gmail.com.