The Daily Office - With Grandchildren

Last night, we had a sleepover with five of our grandchildren and no parents to help mind them, just Grandpère and me. Yes, we are crazy. My three grandsons from New Orleans were staying the night, and my son's children wanted to be with them, so we had them all.

Of course, it was lively. We took them out to eat, because I thought it was better to let them make the mess in someone else's place. I had to take the youngest outside for correction - a stern talk - twice, but we made it through the meal. I believe the folks who ran the restaurant were happy to see us go. The children weren't that bad, just noisy, but, thank heavens, the pizza place was pretty noisy, too.

Later that evening, getting them settled for the night in the two spare bedrooms upstairs was the next challenge. Everyone had a preference that seemed to conflict with someone else's preference, but we finally got them sorted out - we thought. Grandpère and I breathed a sigh of relief and went to bed.

The next morning, when Grandpère went to check on them, he found all five of them sound asleep together in one queen-size bed. It seemed that some heard noises and became frightened, and somehow they all ended up in the same bed, three at the top and two at the bottom. If I had told them that they all had to sleep in the same bed, they would have howled, but there they were five angels sleeping.

I cooked them waffles for breakfast, which pleased them greatly.

Today, I did not make it to church. I had too much compassion for Grandpère to leave him alone with all five, and I did not have the energy to supervise all of them to have them ready to go with me. Since I did not attend church, I read Morning Prayer from The Daily Office in the same room where all five were playing and chattering - sometimes arguing - and, in the midst of the din, I still found much to appreciate.

Hymn

Every morning we will raise
to our God our songs of praise.
Every morning we will raise
to our God our songs of praise.

Antiphon

Alleluia. The earth is the Lord's for he made it: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Psalm 148 Laudate Domi

Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels of his;
praise him, all his host.
Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, heaven of heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
Let them praise the Name of the LORD;
for he commanded, and they were created.

From the Gospel

Matthew 23:37

..."Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"....

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn

God be with you,
God be with you,
God be with you till we meet again.
O---
God be with you,
God be with you,
God be with you till we meet again.

Now they are all gone, and it is very quiet. Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God for the noise and for the quiet.