When we were little girls Grandma would interrupt our random Saturday playtime and make us sit down for a bible lesson. It would be two o'clock in the afternoon and we'd be in the middle of a game of Hide and Seek with Jordan and Alston and she would force the four of us to come inside and listen to tales of "Baby Jesus". We hated this. Our distaste was not pointed towards sweet, baby Jesus but rather Grandma's pesky halting of our fun for what seemed like an entire school day of biblical information.
Jordan and Alston would get sassy with Grandma, offering rude responses to her rhetorical questions or crossing their eyes white tangling their arms into their legs. Ellen and I giggled softy, paying no mind to Grandma and occasionally taking cues from the boys. I remember feeling guilty that we all gave Granny so much trouble but then I would remember that it was Saturday and that I was surely headed to church tomorrow. "Can't it wait, old lady? We have games to play."
As we got a little older she would bribe us with money to read the bible for 15 minutes or so. "I'll give ya a dollar." she would say and then rummage through her purse. When we passed the age of Saturday games or needing a babysitter at all, she would photocopy pertinent bible lessons and have them distributed evenly by our mothers who would tell us to politely "go with it" while seeming to understand how unhinged this made Grandma seem.
This past Sunday dinner we had a delicious meal. We talked about life's happenings, all of our different ailments, and how much we hated the color of Ellen's T-shirt. Dad purchased everything you need to make s'mores (He called them spores. Quite genuinely) and we all stood in the kitchen roasting marshmallows over the stove. We're a simple bunch.
And when it was all over, Mom quietly disappeared into the living room and reappeared with her hands behind her back. "I have something for you girls." she said and then proudly presented each of us with our very own binder.
God's Promises for Good and Bad Times and inside are various clippings and articles. My binder focuses on a directionless life while Ellen's concentrates on strengthening her relationship with God.
We both busted out laughing instantly. "Grandma! Grandma!" Ellen began shouting.
"You've moved into stage 7!" I gasped.
"Don't y'all laugh at me!" Mom protested. "Laura, this is not going on the blog!"
We howled with laughter. Dad laughed at us laughing at Mom.
Sweet little lady. Ain't she precious?
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