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GUEST COLUMN
(5/15/2007)
Close the Gate - The Wish
By Nancy Kraayenhof At the beginning of May I informed my daycare chickens that the television would no longer be turned on until Sesame Street starts at 11:30. That is usually the time when we sit down at the table and color or do crafts while I am starting lunch. I told them I would much rather that they play outside or table toys or anything but sit in front of the boob tube (as I was raised to know it). Of course, we don’t call it that at daycare. There is one exception to the rule… if it is raining. There has been no discussion or argument of the regulation. It has not been questioned or commented on except for the occasional forgetting and asking to watch a movie. I just remind them of the new rule and that movies are for rest time and that is that. However… A couple of weeks ago, before God’s gift of the recent rains, we were all outside in front and I was working in my small flower garden. I don’t have a green thumb by any means but I do try to set a good example for the children and make an effort. We have this ritual where every time we empty a gallon of milk I mix up a gallon of Miracle Grow and feed whatever I think is looking the sickliest. At about four gallons a week, you would think that I would have the best plot around but it seems that weeds like the magic stuff just as much, if not more so, than the plants. I was weeding away and, by the by, did you know that the easiest way to determine weed from plant is to give it a good pull? If it comes out easily, it was in all likelihood not a weed. Braden, a very wise five year old that I has been in my charge since two months old, was watching me when he put his hands on his hips and began wearily scanning the sky. He then stated most profoundly that he sure wished that it would rain. I agreed and took this as an opportunity to tell him how badly rain was needed in places. I continued that we should all ask God for rain and that if enough of us pray, God will send it and the growing things sure are thirsty. I finished by saying that our garden was very dry and we probably would have to hook up the soaker hose. He looked at me, eyebrows furled, like I was confusing the facts and simply stated, “I just want to watch TV in the morning.” Now, this may sound a little silly, but I was overjoyed at his simple statement. If this child has nothing more pressing on his mind than wanting to watch a little more TV then the grown ups in his life, including me, are doing something right. There is no worry of where his next meal is coming from. There is no thought of money to pay the bills. There is no question in his mind that his family and I love him. A shortage of tube time is a big enough concern for him to use a wish on it. Oh that it could be so for all the children in the world. Like a child, close the gate on the worries in your life. If we all pray enough, God will make it right. Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Nancy at Nancy861@msn.com .
Nancy Kraayenhof writes freelance from home where she has been an in-home daycare provider for the past 21 years. Happily married, mother of three and grandmother of one she is a featured columnist for the Hills Crescent, is involved with Catfish Bay Water Ski Park and works part time as a bookkeeper.
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