Our Sunday
School lesson for the second Sunday of Advent was that humility is the true
spirit of Christmas. Teaching point two
was this: “Humility is expressed in
knowing and accepting your place in God’s plan.”
It is a
little awkward to write about humility and oneself without seeming to be proud. But I think you will agree with me that there
is nothing puffed-up about my place in God’s plan: playing Mr. Monkey and singing “The Wheels on
the Bus” with my grandson, Benjamin.
Before I
divulge details of the monkey game which is now part of my daily life, let me
give you a little background. Benjamin
isn’t your typical four-year-old. He has
Down Syndrome. He has yet to utter his
first word, but he is adept at signing “please” and his own version of “sing.” He also communicates through his body
language and actions.
Benjamin and
I are always very happy to see each other.
We smile, laugh, clap our hands, and give each other a big hug. After one or more rounds of this mutual
adoration society greeting, he brings me one of his stuffed monkeys. “Why, it’s Mr. Monkey!” I exclaim. Then, using my best Mr. Monkey voice, I wave
a monkey arm and say, “Hi, Benjamin!” followed by three sets of “Hoo-Hoo-Hoo! Ha-Ha-Ha!
Mu-ah!” as Mr. Monkey zooms in to
kiss Benjamin (left ear, right ear, face) with each repetition.
During the
course of these daily visits, I also manage to squeeze in conversation time
with my daughter and her husband as well as play time with nine-month-old Joelle. Inevitably, the Mr. Monkey routine is
repeated several times over as is Benjamin’s request for “The Wheels on the
Bus.” He signs “sing” (spinning his
hands like the wheels on the bus) and “please” (rubbing his hand on his
chest). I have shortened this
never-ending song to a mere seven verses, and it is always followed up by “Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Then we laugh and hug each other again.
I am sure
that as time goes on, Benjamin and I will come up with additional games to
play. In the meantime, though, I am
quite certain that God’s plan for me is to sing “The Wheels on the Bus” and
play Mr. Monkey with all the love and gusto I can.
