Earthworm Wonder - The babysitter files

This is my most recent addition to the babysitter files. This little conversation transpired on July 31st when two of my little charges were searching for earthworms and caterpillars:

Caleb: Look an earth worm!

Me: OOOh, look at that.

Caleb: whoa it's really wiggly and floppy.

Me: Yeah it's looking for the dirt to dig into. Did you know that earthworms are good for plants and flowers?

Caleb: How are they good for the plants and flowers?

Me: Hmm (thinking of how to explain this to a 7 y/o)

Well, when you eat dinner you start with a full plate right?

Caleb: Uh uh

Me: The earth is like a full plate too. It has food for the plants and flowers that we call nutrients. Just as your plate is empty after you eat off of it, so the earth's food or nutrients "gets empty." It needs to be "refilled" too. The earthworm's, um, poop helps put those nutrients back into the dirt and "fill up the plate again" so that the plants can eat more.

Caleb: But how does the poop help the earth?

Me: You know buddy, I don't exactly know how it works but I know it does!

Caleb: (in complete awe) I didn't know that earthworms were so good. I won't collect them anymore.

The conversation was simple. My explanation rather inadequate. Yet the ability to pass on a little sliver of God's amazing plan of creation; to see the wonder in those young keen eyes... there is just nothing like it!

But now um, if you will excuse me, I need to do a wee bit of research of earthworms...

A Quiver Full of Arrows

Knock, knock, knock! A smile greets me as the mother opens the door. The children come out to talk to their babysitter and attempt to avoid their bedtime. They give me intructions. Soon afterward, the parents open the front door. The moment their feet set ouside the doorway I am no longer in America.

I am in the forest where the ancient trees are stolidly standing like the pillars of a cathedral. The hooves of a dapple grey softly ruffle the dead leaves as the horseman bends forward. The ivory case he hands me is etched with delicate markings yet the beauty lies not in the case itself but in its contense. Three arrows, it held, each different and unique. The first was longer in its length, foretelling the great distance it would fly. Another was smooth. Certainly its aim would be sure and true. The last arrow boasted of a deadly tip. No matter where it struck, it would leave an indelible mark.

" Take care of them. I give them to you for a time. I will be back for them."

A fluttering of motion, a stirring of the leaves, a distant sound of hoof beats and the rider is gone.

He will be back. Thought I. And soon. I must keep these as I would my own honor.

Such are my thoughts, as I am honored with the care of children, any children for any length of time. There is a verse in Proverbs that addresses this very subject of children, describing them as "arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior."

These thoughts are especially real as I am currently attending 3 children's needs (7, 4, and 15 months) for two days- by myself. Tomorrow is when I will be relived of my responsibility. Tomorrow I pass on the precious quiver full to another who will safely guard it until the rider's final return.

Each of these little lives are unbelievably precious. I am truly honored to have this quiver placed in my hands for a few moments, however brief.

The Big A

A few Saturdays ago I was heading up a game of babysitter’s backyard baseball when the words rang out. I had just stepped up to home plate when I caught the remark from one of the boys:
“I want to switch teams. The other player on my team is bad. John is making us lose!” This comment was made in reference to the boy’s younger brother who amazingly enough, had not broken into tears. Still, I could not just let the comment go. The words had been selfish and unkind and I knew they would soon lead to unkind actions. Inevitably I would have to call the entire game off because of the controversy. I looked at the speaker, David. He was wearing an Angels baseball T shirt. Ding ding! An idea popped into my head. I walked into the middle of our little field (if you could even call it that).

“Hey guys, why are we playing?”The reply was confident.
“To have fun”
“Yes but what makes us have fun?”

Silence. I had their attention now. Raising my arms above my head I formed a capital A. “It’s the Big A guys. It’s attitude. How can you have fun if your attitude stinks? I really don’t care who wins this game but what I do care about is how you play it. The Big A is what God sees. That is what He cares about!”

It worked. No more unkind words. No hurt feelings. No ending the game because of controversy. What is more, the kids grabbed onto the concept.

Throughout the entire evening further comments (uninitiated by me) were made. Comments like, “John don’t be a poor sport. Remember your Big A?” One child even went so far as to carry the concept over into other things.

I questioned the youngest boy about why he had taken the piece of cake from the very center of the cake. “There was more frosting on it than any of the other pieces!” I marveled at his truthfulness. He smiled. Cake fork in hand, he created a circle with his arms. “Hey, I’ve got the Big O. ”

"The Big O?"

"Yeah, O for honesty!!"

O for honesty huh? Well, I guess we can work on spelling later. At least he got the right idea!