Generational Integration
I loved being in the SMA and YA small groups over the past two summers. I loved the integration of life stages. Usually I’m in undergrad small groups where I am the oldest and pretty much everyone else is in college. But in these two small groups, we have working people, we have married people, and people married with kids. It’s great. I get to learn and spend time with older people. I get new perspectives on life and much needed wisdom. Plus I don’t feel like one of the oldest anymore – I’ve actually become one of the youngest.
One thing I learned this summer is that I really love kids. I love watching them. It minimizes the chances I make them cry. I do love playing with them though and talking with them. There are such cute kids around in YA and the church. I’ve met many of them this summer – Emmanuel, Titus, Timothy (best name of the bunch), Elijah, Ezra, Ella-joy, and Jonathan. I just love seeing them. But I do have this crazy fear.
I am afraid of carrying them. I’m incredibly scared of dropping a baby. Praise the Lord I have never dropped one and I hope I never will. At the CFC summer picnic I was talking Irene and observing Emmanuel sitting his little chair and she asked if I would like to carry him. I said “No thanks” b/c I was scared I was going to drop him. Sensing hesitation and probably my fear she insisted so I relented. I was going to carry him when something happen and saved the day. I mean, I know how to hold one. It’s the whole maneuvering them around when they get tired of one position or transitioning one to the other that scares me. I’m scared I’ll misplace a hand or not balance them correctly and they become weighted wrong and tumble down to the ground. I’d be a lot easier if I had three arms. But then I’d be a freak.
Hopefully I’ll learn and get over my fear before I have one of my own. To show I’m not complete lost, here’s a picture of me caring my 5 week old nephew Shane.
Me and my 5 week old nephew Shane