Who to Thank?

Posted by Leona Bergstrom

My almost 3 year old (going on 13) grandson visited me this weekend. I announced that I had made him some very special pasta for dinner. When we sat down I said our dinner grace. (My mistake – I should have let HIM do the praying!). I simply said “Thank you Jesus for the food. Amen.” To which Noah replied, “Why?”   “Why what?” I asked. “Why Jesus?” he quizzed.

Oh wow. Here is the grandma moment I’ve been waiting for. My chance to pass on a heritage of faith.

“Well, Jesus made the food  for us to eat and we should thank him for it.” (Not a great answer, but it was fast.)

His response: “I thought you made it. Why Jesus?”

Hmmmm. How do you explain that God provided the wheat, the rain, the tomatoes, the money to buy it — everything. I just fixed it. Kind of like explaining faith and works.

Next time I’ll stick to: “Dear God: Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you, God, for everything. Amen” That covers it and is really pretty great theology. God provides all we need to do all He asks us to do.

(Photo by SP8254-on a break, shared via Flickr)

Welcome Baby Bergstrom

Posted by Leona Bergstrom

How can such a tiny presence make such a difference?

Today we went to meet our newborn grandson. I was feeling overwhelmed by my own chaotic rush to get there through heavy traffic with his 2-year old big brother. My "oh so critical" to-do list was dangling in my brain with haunting incompletion.

Bapa, Nani and Big Bro charged into the hospital room. More chaos.
Helium balloons bouncing off our faces, tired and excited parents
trying to make introductions, an oh-so-curious toddler, cameras that
weren't cooperating or capturing the first sibling encounter, and
nurses ordering us to vacate the room and remove the bags, belongings, and half-eaten salami. We began moving the whole entourage. I felt pressed in from all sides.

And then...there he was! A tiny little person bundled in the familiar
swaddling blanket. Tiny tightened eyelids and a round head that only partly fills the Swedish Hospital baby cap.

Nothing else mattered. I just wanted to stare at him and absorb the serenity, tranquility, blessing and hope of the moment.

Perfect.
Precious.
Peaceful.
Tiny baby boy with a big strong name to fill.
God's gift.
God's grace.
Son of my son.

Graham Charles Bergstrom.
8 pounds 6 ounces
21 3/4 inches long

Welcome! Oh, welcome Graham, into our family and into our world!