In the Routine Business of Life

Lucia Mitchell

My husband and I are active, young-at-heart retirees. We live in Te Tau Ihu, and maintain close contact with our adult daughters in other parts of the country and overseas.

We were delighted when our eldest daughter in Wellington invited us to spend Easter with her family. The few days spent with them were a graced occasion of family activities, meals and relaxed conversation.

I was especially aware of God’s presence in our interactions with our grandchildren, aged ten and twelve. We looked after them on Saturday evening while their parents enjoyed a rare date night. Pizzas were constructed for dinner, followed by the latest Jurassic Park movie on Netflix with a break part-way through for hot chocolate. It was such a warm and loving time.

A further opportunity to spend focussed time with our granddaughter occurred when God prompted me to knock on her bedroom door and invite her to play a boardgame. She accepted enthusiastically and several rousing games of Cluedo were played before dinner. This then spilled over into sharing old family videos after dinner. The childhood antics of our family provided much mirth!

We were so blessed by the presence of God in our family Easter - in the routine business of life. These precious moments unfold when we respond to the inner promptings of the Spirit to engage a little further. God is present in the ordinary events that surround us, maybe especially present in the ordinary!