Addyson is the youngest of our grandchildren and the one that would rather be at Nana and Papa’s house than anywhere else.  She has not been stricken with the disease brought on by adolescence that the other two girls are afflicted with that causes them to constantly want to go to a friend’s house, wallow on the couch, and endlessly peck on some mind-absorbing electronic device.  As for Addy, she is still content to be under Papa’s feet asking him numerous questions no matter what he is doing.

Last Friday was an example.  As I worked on one of my old cars, she stayed with me while Gale was away.  As I worked and struggled with a pesky part that was in an awkward location under the car, she stayed close by—talking non-stop.  I enjoy her company, but unceasing talk does have a way of getting under the skin after awhile, especially when great effort is being expended into work that is tedious and not accomplishing a lot.  Nevertheless, as I crawled around on a rough cement driveway that suggested to me strongly that my knees have a lot more miles on them than they used to, I kept both my sanity and my religion as I struggled and as she talked.

Thankfully her mother eventually came and got her, I finished my repair project just as dark set in, and fun was had by all (two of those three are true!).

There was another scene with Addy recently, though, that was much more enjoyable.  With the help of expensive water I managed to have a few late watermelons in the garden. 

After cutting one and letting it get nice and cold, I fixed Addyson and me each a bowl of the sweet treat and headed to the back porch.  I grabbed a five gallon bucket and took a seat, and she did the same.  As we sat on our buckets enjoying fresh watermelon, I was indeed experiencing one of the priceless pleasures of life that God has blessed me with.

In just days from this writing we will elect someone to the highest office in the land.  With that in mind, I am reminded that our freedom as citizens of this nation comes with great personal responsibility.  The most basic of which is that we take the time and effort to cast our vote.  As we exercise that right, it should be our prayer that God will continue to grant us the freedoms that we have in our nation.

We often refer to 2 Chronicles 7:14 as guidance to us as a nation in need of God’s intervention; surely if we sincerely call upon His Name He will hear, forgive, and heal.  But in this hour that we live in we must also be careful to heed what God spoke to King Solomon a few verses down regarding failure to follow His ways:  “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from My land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for My Name.  I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples” (2 Chronicles 7:19-20, New International Version).  Indeed a serious warning for any nation!

I am thankful for the freedom to sit on the porch with my grandchildren and enjoy life, and I pray that we will continue to have the opportunity.  But freedom comes with responsibility.  You get one vote, but you can pray continually.  Do both, remembering that God is still in control.