Family Portrait IV — Interested and Interesting
When Dot and I discussed details about our visit on the phone several weeks before our trip, she asked for us to do just one thing — bring pictures of our grandchildren. I knew she meant it. They love our children so much and would, of course, want to see photos of their children. I pulled together a little slide show on my laptop.
After listening to their questions about us and our lives after we got there, I decided to add more photos. I added photos of our old house because Tom is interested in it from an architectural point of view. I added photos of Notgrass Company because they both wanted to know about our work. I added ones from Mary Evelyn’s plays because they both knew Mary Evelyn when she was the shyest little girl, hiding behind her mama’s skirt. As it turns out, their son’s homeschooling family is also involved in drama; and we hope to connect Mary Evelyn with their granddaughter, who is interested in writing plays.
After church on Sunday morning and a church potluck to which Dot took homemade corned beef and cabbage, Ray and I spent a good part of the afternoon with another friend. When we got back to Tom and Dot’s, they insisted on taking us out to supper. When we got back home, they sat on the edge of their seats pouring over photo after photo — all 112 of them! Now, wouldn’t you think that great-grandparents would be tired after all that?
As I told you on Tuesday, Tom and Dot are interested and interesting. “Be interesting” was on My Homeschool To Do List when we were homeschooling John, Bethany, and Mary Evelyn. If I were writing a Homeschool To Do List today, I would add, “Be interested.”
I believe it is one of the very best ways that we can obey the second greatest commandment:
The second is like it,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:39
I love the concept of “be interested”. That seems to be a problem for so many young people today. They aren’t interested in much of anything. Of course when my boys were younger they were much more interested in things. It seems as they get older they find other things that interest them, then they lose a bit of their curiosity in things that I would like them to be interested in. 🙁 I think it is something that I need to push a bit more.
Thank you so much for your comment on “Interested and Interesting.” “Tom and Dot” are such wonderful examples to Ray and me. I’m glad their lives were able to bless yours.
I have so enjoyed these posts about your friends Tom and Dot, Charlene! They are such a faithful example of how to continue investing in the lives of others, and being a blessing all the way until the day the Lord calls you home. I pray that we can be those kinds of parents, grandparents, and friends!
I believe you will be those kinds of parents, grandparents, and friends, Betsy!
I love, love, love, the being interested and interesting, along with the Love your neighbor as yourself scripture. It seems to be a lost art in the culture we are in today. So many are (including myself) are interested face to face then when you leave that person you forget. I want to make a special effort to not forget. Thank you for the reminder.
Good thoughts, Nancy! Thanks for the kind comment.