Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
“B-15… N-38…O-64…. Bingo!”
My husband and I had been looking for a way to connect more with our 6-year-old grandson. Since the family lives about seven hours away from us, our times together are limited. We already read regularly online with his older brother, but since the younger one would rather jump on the trampoline than pick up a book, our options seemed slim.
Then my daughter suggested we play Bingo through an app she found online. So we made copies of the Bingo cards, set a time to connect, and cried, “let the games begin!” I won the first round, then the second. And I could have called out “Bingo” the third time, but I remained silent and kept playing to give our little guy a chance to win. My husband also stifled his competitive spirit until our grandson was able to yell the elusive words. By the last round Chip and I were both all in on letting him win. We figured he’s still learning his numbers and letters, so he could use a handicap. And who better to show grace to their grandkids than grandparents?
When I relayed this story to a friend, she remarked, “I think God plays Bingo like that with us all the time.” It made me think.
It’s not that we don’t have to learn how to lose at times. But sometimes when the challenges we face reach beyond our capability, God gives us a handicap. He lets us call on his strength, his wisdom, his power, to win.
The eighth chapter of Romans says that “we are more than conquerors.” God purposes for us to walk in victory over every imaginable obstacle… tribulation, distress, persecution… (v.36). He wants us to win so much that he sends the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness (v.26).
Why? Because he loves us. We are more than conquerors “through him who loved us.” God loves us to the grave and back through Christ.
I’m looking forward to the next time we play Bingo with our grandson. And be assured, we will do whatever we can to let him know we love him and consider him a winner, no matter how the numbers fall.
After all, isn’t reflecting God’s love the best way for grandparents to connect with their grandkids?