Grandpa’s Ten Commandments (For Little Pillows)
“Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
But what are they for?
What do noisy cowboy games and grass-stained clothes have to do with something very important Grandpa is writing at his desk? After a wild morning of backyard fun, Blizzard and Cyclone are handed a special list called “Grandpa’s Ten Commandments for Little Pillows.” This sweet and playful story invites young readers to discover how simple choices each day can make their hearts happier and their homes brighter.
One day Cyclone and I were outside running around, back and forth, from the front to the backyard, playing tag and firing off our noisy cap guns pretending to be cowboys. Both of us like to watch western shows on our favorite television channel. I was pretending to be Matt Dillon and Cyclone was Cheyenne Bodie.
I guess we were getting very loud playing our games because Grandpa came out to see what was going on! He might have thought we were being attacked by real Indians! When he observed that there was nothing out of the ordinary, he came over and told us to keep the noise down. I thought it would be hard to be a running cowboy being chased by wild Indians and “keep the noise down”, but we told Grandpa we would try.
When it was lunch time, about an hour later, we went into the garage and changed our clothes. I really had no idea how it happened, but we were both dirty and had grass stains on all of our clothes.
Cyclone left his clothes in a heap on the garage floor, but I picked mine up and brought them in for Grandma or one of the girls to wash them.
Grandpa was at Grandma’s desk doing something, so I went in to see what it was. He told me to wait just a few minutes and then he would be done. He said he would come out to visit with Cyclone and me as soon as he finished. I went to the living room to talk with Cyclone, but he had already gone to the bedroom to jump on the bed. That kid is a fireball of energy! I don’t know what he eats!?
When Grandpa came out of the office, he asked Cyclone and me to sit on the sofa as he had something for us. I just started to wonder what he had in mind when he handed both Cyclone and me a sheet of paper.
I instantly knew what he had been doing in the office and what he had for us. It was Grandpa’s ten commandments for little pillows. Cyclone and I looked at each other and then looked at our “ten commandments”.
Let me share them with you:
Learn to be patient and wait. Little pillows are not the entire family. Everything does not center around them.
Don’t get carried away in your play. Have fun, but respect those around you, those at home and those in your neighborhood.
God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. Learn to be a good listener and talk a little less.
Limit the pestering done to your sisters and remember…. if they are not enjoying your play (or pestering), you need to quit.
Always be grateful for God’s blessings and also for what others do for you. Both God and people love a grateful heart coming from those to whom kindness is shown.
Always be respectful and courteous, especially to adults.
Be careful and observe what is going on around you. This will keep you safe and out of trouble.
Be helpful to your parents, sisters and those that love and care for you.
Don’t be a complainer. Talk nice to others and take time to be an encourager.
Have fun, but don’t be too rambunctious.
I asked Grandpa if Jesus gave him that list? He said, “No, but He guides me many times.” Then he went on to say, “Boys, I love you and want the very best for you; just like Jesus wants the best for all of His children.”
Friends, here is what the Holy Bible tells us in Exodus 20: 12 “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” csb That is the fifth commandment.
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