"Grandma, Grandma! Can we play the shell game?” seven-year-old Nathan pleads. The shell game is Grandma Cummings' version of "Hide the Thimble." Grandma's rules are simple: one person hides the shell while the finding people are in the next room. The small ivory colored Cape Cod souvenir sea shell must be "hidden" in full view of finders of all heights. No one should have to touch, move, crawl under, or stand on top of anything in Grandma's kitchen to spot the shell. The lucky finder becomes the next hider.
Hiding
"Okay, Nathan, you be the first hider," Grandma says. Timmy, Keith, David and Grandma go into the living room while Nathan hides the shell. They are certain that Nathan has been plotting his hiding place for some time because in just a few seconds he calls, "Ready!"
Finding
The finders enter the kitchen. Nathan's eyes sparkle and he bounces from foot to foot with excitement. "You'll NEVER find it," he announces. They look and look and soon David spies the shell, hidden as a cap on a white candle.
Hiding
"Good job, Nathan! That was a clever hiding place! Okay, David, it is your turn to hide the shell." All of the finders exit and David hides the shell… "Ready!"
Finding
The finders return. David has clearly done a good job of hiding because the finders make several passes around the kitchen. No shell. Finally, with the help of clues from David, Timmy finds the ivory shell carefully placed on the cream-colored pages of a cookbook. The markings on the shell blend with the appearance of the pages.
The game continues. Timmy hides the shell as a button on the wicker chair pillow. Keith hides the shell on the floor as a white flower in the rug under the dining table.
The game goes on
Each time Grandma suggests quitting, the boys say, "Just once more… please, Grandma." So they play again.
Playing a simple, made-up game costs no money and brings great pleasure to Grandma and her grandsons. Is there any greater joy in life?
A happy family
The Bible describes a healthy family this way: "Blessings on all who reverence and trust the Lord--on all who obey him! Their reward shall be prosperity and happiness. Your wife shall be contented in your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around the dinner table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is God's reward to those who reverence and trust him. May the Lord continually bless you with heaven's blessings as well as human joys. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren! And may God bless Israel!" (Psalm 128, The Children's Living Bible)
Today's prayer
"Dear God, thank you for the blessings of families... grandparents, parents, children and especially thank you for the joys that grandchildren bring to grandparents. Amen."
© 1998 Jennifer Cummings
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