I’d like to share a story with you about my grandfather. Some people may find this story funny, but for me at only four years old, it wasn’t funny at all! I’m happy to share this story because my grandfather showed me what love is, and his love that was extended to me has made a huge difference in my life.

One night after my parents and grandfather put me to bed, they left the house quietly to see a short film that was being shown in the park not too far from our house. My bedroom was dark, and after everyone had left, the house was quiet, maybe too quiet. It must have been the closing of the front door that woke me up, and when I could not hear any more sounds coming from inside our house, I became afraid and could not hold back my tears. I cried for my parents, but no one responded, and then I knew that I had been left alone.

I stood on my bed and looked out of my window to find my parents, hoping that they could hear me crying. The moon hid itself behind some clouds, and there were several dogs barking in the neighborhood. I waited for a long time, but still nobody came. Because of my fear of the dark, I got out of bed and went into the family room, hoping to find more light than I had in my bedroom. It was so quiet, and if there was any sound, it was mine. I walked forward to the window hoping that I could see someone on the road coming toward our house, but the window was so high that my eyes could not see over the lower edge of the window. Fortunately, there was a carton right under the window, and I felt so lucky that I could stand on the carton and look out of the window. When I put my foot up, I heard a loud “crunch” coming from inside the carton, and then when I put my other foot up, I heard even more “crunch” sounds.

Just then, I heard voices coming nearer and nearer and I knew that my family was coming home. I quickly jumped off the carton and rushed back to my bedroom and shut the door, crying even louder so that I would attract their attention. Suddenly, my bedroom door opened and my parents rushed in to hold and comfort me. The following morning, I noticed that my parents seemed worried when they noticed the distorted carton under the window. You see, it was my grandfather’s carton, and my parents were so worried that my grandfather would be angry with me. On the contrary, he just came to me with a smile and said, “My little grandson, don’t worry about the carton, I will get another one.”

Years later when I grew up, I came to realize what had happened that night. You see, my grandfather’s carton that I stood on contained chicken eggs, and lots of them. Each day, my grandfather would collect chicken eggs, and then early the next morning he would deliver them to the neighbors and collect money for our family. Now I can understand how sad he must have been, but he never became angry with me for my terrible mistake. He only told me that he could replace the carton, but he never said a word about all of the eggs that I had smashed.

I realize now that my grandfather’s love for me went far beyond money. He could have become angry with me, but he knew how fearful I had been on that dark and lonely night, and he chose to just love me instead, I want to say that he cared more for me than about the lost eggs that went “crunch,” “crunch” as I stepped onto the carton that dark night. I now know that while money is essential to live, family love is even more important.

Additional Comments – What a wonderful lesson my student learned about love. It should be no surprise to any of us that one of the attributes of God is “love” (1 John 4:8). Some tend to think of God as a vengeful tyrant who can’t wait to punish those “wayward” and “rebellious” human beings, ourselves included. Quite the contrary, God extends His love to each of us at every turn.

My student spoke of the “lost eggs” in the carton! They were no longer useful to the family, except for making scrambled eggs! Just like Humpty Dumpty and all the king’s men, no one could put those eggs back together again! For Humpty Dumpty, apparently his purpose in life was to sit on a wall. How exciting! But the eggs that were lost that evening for my student had both value and purpose, which was to provide added income for the family, and at the same time, provide breakfast for many of the neighbors. 

Luke in his gospel records three stories that Jesus told about things of value that were lost. Remember the lost sheep, and how the shepherd left the other 99 and went looking for that one who was lost? Or the woman who lost a single coin and went searching for it even though she had 9 other coins? We might think that the shepherd could have managed quite well with the 99 sheep that remained, or the woman who still had 9 coins remaining, but no, one was lost, and the shepherd and the woman had to go looking for the one that was missing. And with the retrieval of the sheep and the coin came great joy over that which was lost.

But unlike the first two stories, when the younger son demanded a third of the Father’s estate in cash and then left to pursue fame and fortune, the Father did not go looking for him, but only waited for him to return. He knew that his son had a conscience and could make choices, and he waited patiently for circumstances in the boy’s life to throw him into desperate need. The boy “came to his senses,” and returned to his Father in shame and regret, hoping that his father would at least make him a hired hand so that he could pay back all the money he took for his adventure. To his surprise, the Father extended grace instead of punishment and an employment contract. It was about the Father’s unconditional love, along with His forgiveness, mercy, and grace that made the difference. 

My student’s grandfather expressed many of the qualities that God wants us to have when it comes to our relationships. One of my favorite “relationship” verses in the Bible comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Eph. 5:32). Our relationships would be transformed if we would follow these “relational” commandments. Easy? No! Doable? Yes! Remember, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Let’s ask Him to empower us so that we can keep these commandments. By His grace, we can, so let’s just go do it!