Colouring can be fun!
I was rudely awoken that morning by my dad. Boy, he sure was chipper,
whatever that word means.
"What time is it?" I muttered.
"Just past six o'clock."
"Six o'clock?" I cried, suddenly awake. "You mean six o'clock - A.M.???" I was
horrified! Why would my dad wake me up at such an unearthly hour while we were
still on vacation? I would much rather sleep in, believe me!
"Do you hear the thunder?" he asked. "The storm's moving in fast. We need to
break camp before we get soaked!"
I blinked, my eyes still trying to adjust to the light. "But-but what about
breakfast?" I croaked. Didn't he know that teenagers are constantly hungry?
"We'll drive into Iowa City and find something," he answered.
A restaurant??? Now that was more like it. "Cool!" I said, hopping out of bed.
Like all teenagers, I like to act out a little. I have no idea why, but I do. It
just sort of happens. And it was happening while we were breaking up camp. I
don't know why they were all glaring at me. Why do they always have to take my
jokes so seriously, anyway? Can't they just lighten up a little?
Once on the road however, there must have been a transfer of personalities, as
all of a sudden I was the serious one while both my mom and dad, as well as my
not-so-little brother all started to act weird! And when I say "weird", I really
mean "weird'!
It all started when someone in the van relieved themselves of a bit of gaseous
pressure that had been building up in their intestines.
"Pew!" exclaimed my mother, rolling down her window. "Who did that?" She glared
into the back. "That really stinks!"
I don't know why, but every time that familiar odor fills the air, me and my
not-so-little brother get blamed!
"It sure does!" joined in my dad, as his window also went down.
Great! "Euh . . . It's kind of windy back here," I said, trying to sound polite.
"Can you roll your windows back up, please?"
That's when they started acting up. While one rolled his or her window up, the
other would roll his or hers down! This went on without interruption for way too
long. But that's not the worst of it. All of a sudden my dad started to squawk!
He thinks that he is singing, but believe me I would rather listen to the
scratching of nails on a blackboard! There I was, stuck in the back of a van,
blaring down the highway with turbulent winds assaulting me from all sides, with
my fingers stuck in my ears trying to block the horrible noises emanating from
my dad's throat! And to make it all worse, my not-so-little brother was rolling
with laughter. He would have rolled off his seat, if his seatbelt hadn't been
holding him in! How could anyone survive such horrible conditions? Ridiculous!
I was quite relieved when we finally stopped at a nice-looking restaurant for
breakfast. I quickly retreated from the car and put as much space between myself
and them as I could. My only hope was that they would behave themselves in
public.
To my horror, they didn't!
We were seated almost immediately, and the waitress brought in two paper place
mats and a cup of crayons. She put one in front of my brother and one in front
of me. I couldn't believe it! I quickly shoved mine away. Didn't they know that
at thirteen I wasn't a child anymore? Didn't they realize that teenagers feel
undignified when someone suggests that they partake in such childish activities?
That's when I saw my parents exchange "the look". Oh no! What did they have up
their sleeves this time?
To my utmost horror and over my distinctly loud complaints, they each took
crayons and started to colour my placemat! How could they do that to me in
public!
I tried to hide when the waitress came to our table with our food, but I was
even more horrified when she started - laughing!
"I know all about teenagers!" she said.
I couldn't stop myself: "Hey! It isn't ME making a fool out of myself!"
I sure was glad when we were finally able to return to the safety of our own
van. In the vehicle, my parents could be as silly as they wanted to be, over my
dead body naturally, but at least we wouldn't be seen in public!
Or that's what I thought!
I now realize that they taught me an important lesson that day. I started to
understand their viewpoint about how silly my teenage behavior must look in
public. I finally understood that in their fun loving way, they really care for
me. Instead of feeling as out of place as a lobster in boiling water, I feel
special. They understand where I am coming from, and although I may drive them
nuts sometimes, they still love me.
1 John 4:12 "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in
us and his love is made complete in us." NIV
Heb 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so
that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." NIV
(This devotional is written in the perspective of my oldest son. He is fun to be
around and even though he is a teenager, I sure do love him!)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.