Kids Under Construction

A few days ago Jessica came to help me make gingerbread houses for all the grandkids to decorate on Friday after Thanksgiving.

It was clear, within a few minutes, that Jessica was much more interested in customizing her own gingerbread house than helping me do assembly-line, cookie-cutter houses for each of the grands.

That got me to wondering if the other grandkids over five years of age were big enough, patient enough, and interested enough to construct and customize their own houses.

“Yes” was the enthusiastic, diligent and creative response.

And so today—on maybe the last pretty day of the season—when most of our neighbors were outside putting up Christmas lights—grands were inside constructing.

No candy was consumed today. Decorating does not begin on our gingerbread houses until after Thanksgiving. On that day, candy is placed creatively all over the houses and consumed in large amounts. That is not to say that no sugar was consumed today.

The frosting does harden in the end of the tips requiring a suck on the end of the frosting tube to get it moving again. Our two little guests decorated cookies after the grands went home. It was clear that they had been observing and learning and knew what to do when given their own tube of frosting.

These grands are a talented group. I couldn’t resist a few photos of the undecorated gingerbread houses. I will surely need to post again after Friday’s decorating and landscaping event.

And just in case, you read the title of this post and are wishing your could remember the words to the children’s song played over and over and over again in Christian homes on records and cassettes in the 80’s, I will print them out. Go ahead, let me hear that refrain.

Kids Under Construction

Refrain

Kids under construction -
Maybe the paint is still wet.
Kids under construction -
The Lord may not be finished yet.

We’re more than just accidents without the cause;
We’re more than just bodies and brains.
God made us on purpose; we’re part of a plan.
He cares and He knows us by name.

Refrain

Now, mister, I know that I get in your way;
I’m noisy and just bug you so.
But there’s lots of questions I just have to ask
If I’m ever going to know.

Refrain.

Dear Jesus, please make me more patient and kind,
And help us to be more like You.
And make room for all other children of Yours,
For they are still growing up, too.

by Bill Gaither and Gary Paxton