When An 18, 15, and a 7 Year Old Hang Out

     I keep looking around for my little Benny, wondering where he is, until I remember that he is off at a friend's house. It is unusual for him to go somewhere on a Sunday afternoon, because most of his friends are usually busy after church, but today was an exception. Before I go any further, let me tell you a little about Benjamin:  he is seven years old, the youngest child in our family, and an amazing little brother to all his siblings. He loves Legos, and games that involve building, plus he loves to do puzzles books, just like his mommy. :) There is something about him though, that has always seemed quite different than other boys his age. I believe it is because he has older brothers and sisters in the house and they treat him like he is one of them. They have never treated him like a baby, nor did they ever want to kick him out of their rooms because they found him annoying. So, he continues to be by their side all the time, getting in on all the fun teenage stuff they enjoy doing, and my little baby is growing up into a teen overnight. In fact, I was talking to a lady at church about how he is a teenager in a seven year old's body, when he came running up to me and gave me that look he does when he wants me to say 'yes' to something. 
     "What do you want to ask me?" I said to him. 
     "Can I go with JJ to Tom's house today?" he asked me quite excitedly. 
     "You? Did he ask you?" 
     "Yes, he did!" 
     Well, after connecting with Tom's mother, we confirmed it would be okay and he really was invited. Invited to a senior's house to hang out! Imagine that! Tom, who is 18, wanted to hang out with a seven year old kid. My point exactly! 
     So, here I sit, shaking my head at how odd events in life can be. I never remember being invited to anyone's house that was much older than me. In fact, I always got along better with the girls who were two or three years younger than me. I can remember going with the older girls on a shopping trip, but I never felt like I was a part of them. They did not make me feel welcome and I was so glad when it was over. I never wanted to do something like that again. I can also recall the older teens making fun of me for different reasons and I was never 'cool' enough to be a part of their crowd at church. I do not think teens should have 'clicks' because they hurt the ones who are excluded. I know what it is like to be the outcast. I hope and pray that my children never have to go through that, but I also pray that my children will be the ones to step in and take the hand of the lonely one and pull them into their group. There should be no differences because we are all the same in God's eyes. He views us as His children and we should never think more highly of ourselves than anyone else. And meanwhile, while I try to teach them these lessons in life, I have a seven year old hanging out with a bunch of teens. May God give me wisdom in dealing with five teenagers in the house sooner than I thought possible.