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| A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | ||
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May As many of you know, our first granddaughter was born two and a half years ago. Her name is Emma. Since the day Emma was born, I have looked after her once a week. We run errands together, play together, build things with Legos, work puzzles and listen to Sesame Street discs. (Some songs I have to play twenty times or more, because they are Emma’s favorites. Sometimes, I get to play my favorite, which is “Put Down the Duckie”) Oh yes, we also plunk on the piano and sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Well, Emma sings; I listen. After hearing me sing a few times, Emma said, “I sing all by myself. You listen.” So, I listen. Now grandparents are notorious for being far more lenient with their grandchildren than they were with their own children and I suppose that’s the case with me. As Emma has grown, however, I have discovered the need to establish some rules. I call them “Emma’s Rules.” Obedience to these rules is still, on occasion (to be more precise: on most occasions), a matter of negotiation between us, but I am confident that the rules will be more frequently complied with once I figure out how to make Emma comply. ( Do you know what the word “irrepressible” means? The more politically correct term is “spirited”.) At any rate, I should tell you that soon I’ll be calling these rules “Emma’s and Sidney’s Rules,” because seven months ago we welcomed our second granddaughter, Sidney, and I now look after both of them together. But Sidney is too young to comprehend the rules, let alone offer the heartfelt and glad compliance I yearn for from Emma, so for now they are simply “Emma’s Rules.” Of course they could also be called “Dopey’s Rules,” because that is what Emma calls me: Dopey. That’s my name. We have no idea why she came to call me that when she first began to speak, although a number of individuals — former friends — have felt free to offer their opinions as to the origin of the name. I always said that I would not choose a name for Emma to call me but accept whatever name she chose to call me, so Dopey it is. But what are “Emma’s Rules”? Well, ranking right up there at the top of the latest is this one: “No whining.” No matter what, no whining. And right next to that one is this one: “Hold my hand when we’re walking on a sidewalk or in a parking lot.” And: “Be nice to Sidney.” Also: “Do what your mom and dad say.” (I promised my daughters and sons-in-law that I would never undercut their authority — no matter how tempted I might be to do so.) And then: “Pick up your mess.” And: “No playing in the living room.” And more recently, since Emma is, let us say, very verbal (in other words, she never stops talking), and has become just a titch sassy: “Watch what you say.” As Emma grows older, I intend to add a few. Like: “Think.” And: “Look up at the stars now and then.” Also: “Use your imagination.” And when she stays overnight with us and there’s no school the next day: “If you read, you can stay up as late as you want.” And oh yes, this one: “You will go to church.” (We now live close enough to Emma for “Grandmoo” to enforce this one in case the parents in question prove a bit recalcitrant.) Eventually, when Emma is ready, I will add this one: “Laugh, Love, Trust.” And: “Be the best you have it in you to become.” And when she’s an adult: “Remember to play.” Also: “Remember the stars and don’t forget to wave back when a tree waves hello to you.” And: “Don’t waste your time being mad.” Now those of you who know me know that I’m not exactly someone who is rule-bound, into regulations, big on the letter of the law. So why all the rules? Because what I want for Emma and Sidney more than anything is that they know joy in their lives, their work, their relationships and ultimately, in Christ — that they find joy or, more accurately, that joy is able to find them. And I think these rules are rules for living that will lead to joy. And, frankly, they can lead us to joy as well, because the truth is that “Emma’s Rules” are rules for adults too. As a matter of fact, as I thought about all of this, it struck me that I should do a series of sermons on these rules. And that’s exactly what I am going to do: on Sunday, May 6, I will begin a series entitled “Emma’s Rules — For Adults.” Of course by this point some of you might be wonder: Why not just teach Emma — and Sidney — the Ten Commandments, some basic moral rules, or better, the one commandment — “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself”? Don’t worry, they’ll get all that. Anyway, I’m interested in something more: not simply learning such things but actually living such things and coming to have what Jesus said he wants for all of us to have, and that is abundant and joyous life. But still you might wonder: How exactly do “Emma’s Rules” relate to the proper subject of sermons, i.e., God, Jesus, the Gospel? Well, let’s see. “No whining?” Oh, I don’t know, it kind of brings to mind Paul’s admonition to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances.” “Be nice to Sidney”? How about: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Watch what you say”? Remember what James said about the need to “bridle” our tongues? “Pick up your mess”? Well, it may sound like a bit of a stretch, but you may want to ponder what Jesus meant when he talked about picking up our crosses and following him. “Look at the stars”? Try Psalms 8 and 148 for starters. “Laugh. Love. Trust”? Sit down with Matthew, Mark, Luke, John — actually, the whole Bible, cover to cover. And on and on. So beginning May 6, a series on “Emma’s Rules.” Now if you don’t like the idea, that’s fine. Just remember: “No whining”!
God be with you, Jeff
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