I am told people who are writers, or in my case ‘bloggers’, go through hills and valleys with their writing. Some days you are filled with topics and can write for long periods of time. Other days you are without words. Today is the first day of Advent and I found myself “ramblin” at my keyboard.

Our house has the sounds of grandchildren who are visiting for the weekend. With these children every thing is an adventure. June, my wife, a former kindergarten teacher has story upon story she can tell and activity upon activity in which she can engage them. For these young children coming to grannie and granddaddy’s is a real treat.

Luke, my four year old grandson and I took an extended walk at 7:15 this morning. The sun was shining, the birds singing. My objective was to intertwine nature with God and His creation. Amidst all of the signs of nature and creation I immediately recalled a story I had heard several years ago……….

“God are you really there?” the little boy, Jimmy, said out loud.

To his astonishment a voice came from the clouds. “Yes Jimmy? What can I do for you?”

Seizing the opportunity, Jimmy asked. “God? What is a million years like to you?”

Knowing that Jimmy could not understand the concept of infinity, God responded in a manner to which Jimmy could relate. “a million years to me Jimmy, is like a minute.”

“Oh, said Jimmy, “Well then, what’s a million dollars like to you?” A million dollars to me Jimmy is like a penny.”

“Wow!” remarked Jimmy, getting the idea. “You’re so generous…can I have one of your pennies?”

God replied. “Sure thing, Jimmy! Just a minute.”

My walk with Luke was one of the most interesting walks I have ever had. Filled with questions about God, nature and peppered with “why, Grandaddy?” I found myself enlightened and challenged. At the end of our morning journey I immediately recalled a note I had stored away in one of my “writer’s” folders concerning the greatest gift a young boy said he had ever received.

This man recalled when he was a young boy his dad wrote him a note and gave him the note at Christmas.

“Son, this year I will give you 365 hours. An hour every day after dinner.

We’ll talk about whatever you want to talk about. We’ll go wherever you want to go. Play whatever you want to play, every day of the year.

It will be your hour.”

That dad kept his promise and renewed it every year.

At Christmas God sends you the greatest gift you will ever receive. It is wrapped in your heart. A promise to talk about whatever you want to talk about, go wherever you want to go, play whatever you want to play, every day of the year. And He is keeping that promise.