A recent conversation with my five year-old grandson caused me to share some personal experiences and thoughts with him about who his Nana is and things Nana knows. At issue was whether there was anything wrong with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich I had just prepared for him. Since this was not our first such incident, I sought to reassure him that I can indeed be trusted with sandwich-making and other important tasks. Here are some facts I pointed out to my grandson: 1. I have been alive for a long time and have experienced a lot of things. 2. I successfully raised his mother and his aunt who are alive and healthy by the grace of G-d. 3. I am still alive and healthy so I haven't made a fatal mistake yet. 4. I, like his parents, love him very much and will do everything possible to keep him safe and healthy. 5. I am still learning new things and it's okay for him to ask questions and make suggestions.
At this point, this precious child seemed to relax a bit and even smiled. However, I know this conversation is likely to be repeated many times again. Therefore, I started asking myself some serious questions. What do I really know after almost 60 years in this body? Is there more to learn? Are there things I know to be the absolute truth? Are there things I hope to be true? Are there things I hope are not true? How much control do I really have?
Today has been relatively quiet at my home but not in the world. There is a lot of unrest everywhere right now - wars and rumors of wars, economic woes, hate crimes, and controversy at every turn. I am very aware none of this is new. However, I find myself more concerned about the future of this nation and our world than I have been in many decades. How involved should I be in national or world events? I promised my grandson, and by extension his brother and cousins, that I will do everything possible to keep him safe and healthy, beginning, but not ending, with his sandwich.
This leads me to separate things that I control from things over which I have no control. I control: 1. My thoughts 2. My time 3. My words 4. My location 5. My actions Wow! I have a lot of freedom! I do not control: 1. Anyone else's thoughts, time, words, location, or actions 2. The weather 3. The economy 4. The news 5. G-d I also have strict limitations. G-d controls: 1. His thoughts 2. His actions 3. His Word 4. Time and eternity 5. His promises concerning life, death, and creation It's comforting to know that the One who created us also loves and sustains us. He wrote a book of instructions and revealed His plan from beginning to end. G-d has no limitations but gave us the freedom to choose life or death - obedience or disobedience. This gives some clarity and definition to things Nana knows besides sandwich making. As a result, I will spend tonight praying, reading, and thinking.
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