Since the box was open at the top, to keep it secure, safe and protected he said that he wrapped it in bubble-wrap and sat it in its own little cosy spot at the top of his wardrobe, until such time he had a small companion to play with it, with him.
Mark Tronson picks up the story: And now, at last, I have my first grandchild. I have seen this little baby grow bit by bit, and finally, when she visited at the age of one and a half, came the big moment in my life as a new grandfather, when I could bring out Pop's Blocks.
This Pop has a white beard, wears glasses, usually wears some form of a cap, has a bit of a belly on him, talks with a deep voice. Perhaps to a toddler, he generally looks and sounds like a fearsome old ogre.
When this Pop sat on the floor on that first occasion and tipped out Pop's Blocks, he started placing the blocks back into the box. With the encouragement of the little one's mother, the little one sat down on the other side of the box and started to help with the task of refitting the box with the blocks.
It wasn't long before Pop's Blocks became a favourite on that visit. There were several reasons for this. It was good fun putting the blocks into the box in all sorts of different combinations.
It was even more fun tipping out the blocks from the box and then starting all over again. It was delightful that the granddaughter would sit down with old Pop and play blocks and when the suggestion was ever made to play blocks there was joy all round. Moreover it gave her mother a rest from the constancy of watching a toddler in an unfamiliar house.
The next visit was when this little was twenty-one months old. Again, out came Pop's Blocks, and many a fun time was had on that four day visit playing Pop's Blocks with old Pop on the floor with the fast-growing toddler.
When it came time to leave, Pop had great pleasure in showing the little one the spot in the wardrobe where the blocks are securely placed until the next visit.
The next visit was this recent Christmas 2010, and now she is two. First thing on Christmas morning, it is deemed 'necessary' to take the walk to old Pop's wardrobe, and the first entertainment of the day was playing Pop's Blocks.
Before breakfast, before Church, even before opening the gifts under the Christmas Tree, Pop and grandchild sat down together again, the blocks were tipped out, and immediately both old pop and toddler were busily having fun refitting the blocks into the box.
Throughout the week, although there were many gifts, the favourite was Pop's Blocks and it seems that it is not only that Pop's Blocks are fun to play with, but that the grandchild has established an affinity with old Pop because he spends time playing Pop's Blocks with her.
I expect that by the time the next grandchild comes along, this one may have grown a little past Pop's Blocks, we'll see. Certainly, Pop's Blocks are a hit.
Over and over again in the Scriptures, the importance of family life and family relationships is emphasised. Deuteronomy 6 in the Old Testament and Timothy in the New Testament discuss the necessity to pay attention to family responsibilities and mentor the next generation.
In our family, Pop's Blocks are just one small part of that extended family bonding.
