The Rock Patrol (04/07/2026)

On Easter Sunday, when several of the family had gathered, I announced that I needed their help with a chore. I explained that the snowplow had hit our rock bed by the drive this past winter and driven several rocks into our yard. I needed help gathering them so the spring mower didn’t launch them at my neighbor’s house and do damage. I was amused by the response to my plea for help.

The grandkids in their twenties just nodded and walked that way. The oldest and middle teen said, “Sure.” The youngest grandson wanted more information. “Will there be a reward? How much per rock?”

I led them to the garage and picked up a pail, then I led them to the stretch of lawn that had a large deposit of unwanted rocks. The oldest grandsons started picking up rocks, the youngest persisted in his negotiations as he searched. When the easy to find rocks were collected, several dropped out of the search and started to meander back to the house, but the next to the youngest was on his knees, trying hard to dislodge the rocks that were somewhat buried in the mud. I stood by him, trying to encourage his steadfastness to the task.

It was just a small and quirky “grandma dilemma,” but I was amused by the different responses I received. And as we returned to the house and everyone found a new focus and direction, I was alone in the kitchen area doing dinner preparation and had time to think back on our familial rock patrol. Each of us is unique as demonstrated by our responses to the need. Each wanted to help but went about it at different speeds and in different ways. While we all share a gene pool, we are not alike, not even close. And I was grateful to the LORD for these amazing grandchildren who together bring such a rich experience and approach.

Later, after the family left, as I sat and gave thanks for each of them individually and all of them together, I pondered the rock patrol again and realized I’d been given a lesson in life again. We are all children of the LORD. We are all on the same journey yet we each approach it differently. We each bring our own gifts and talents and vision to the journey. I prayed that the world could better see that and that we could set down the criticism and polarization and instead pick up the unifying knowledge of a shared journey to a shared hope – life in Christ. We won’t all do it the same. We are not supposed to be carbon copies of one another. Rather, we are to share the journey, share our love for the one who called us, share our love for each other, and do our share along the way.

Before I bid the LORD good night, I added a thank you to the LORD for the day with my family and for the lesson. And then I prayed that I would take it’s message forward.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.