Wisdom Makes People Feel Special

By Micah Gonet

This week’s post is by our grandson, Micah, who is 8 years old. He asked if he could write a “Wednesday Wisdom” about his Papa. Wyndham loves deeply…such that people want to express how much they feel loved. Thank you Micah. We love you. 

We’re putting a lot of effort and planning to go see Papa in Boston these days.  Because he can’t walk, he can’t come down to see us in Connecticut, so we go up there. It probably easy for him to feel like, “Hey guys, I can’t walk!  Can you help me?”’  and to just be selfish.  But instead he decides to think about us and not himself.  For example, I was outside in his yard the other day playing ball with my cousin Caleb. Mom called me up to the porch where Papa was watching us play.

I said, “Man!” cause I didn’t want to stop playing. But I listened to my Mom and went up anyway.  Then Papa gave every cousin a 20 dollar bill!

Here is another reason Papa makes me feel great: Once when everybody went out to eat at a restaurant, I stayed with Papa at his house. I wanted to watch a football show.  He wanted to watch a show about fishing. He watched the football show with me even though he didn’t want to. That’s how he shows how much he cares about me.

About a year ago, when I had a baseball game on the weekend, Papa came down to Connecticut and stayed in a hotel just so he could see me play even though it is hard for him to even get into the hotel. That also shows how much he loves me and cares for me.  After the game, he gave me a big hug and kiss. 

Back to the story about the money: When he gave me that 20 dollar bill, it made me feel so good.  But giving to everyone made Papa feel so good, and that shows how amazing he is. Although it’s hard, he pulls through and never gives up. Even though he can’t walk he still sticks with Jesus and always does the right thing.  Even though he can’t do much we still can do a lot with him.

He reminds me of the scripture in Philippians 2, verse 3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.  That is exactly what Papa does. 

And I love watching the Red Sox with him.

I love you, Papa.

Your Buddy,

Micah