Could a Penguin Climb a Tree? (A Glimpse of the Lykosh Home)

After three years of sending daily emails, I asked readers to tell me their favorite, or what had been the most life-changing, or what had staying power.

Adrienne wrote, “This one is still one of my favorites. Makes me laugh out loud every time. I know it’s perhaps not as insightful as most of your posts, not full of teaching, but truly, it’s a classic. Penguins in trees indeed!”

So, to demonstrate that, perhaps, I’m not all prayer, all the time: a glimpse from my home.

I was getting for bed one night when, from the kitchen, I heard my designated dishes-washer, Abraham, exclaim, disgusted, “Unscented?! What kind of dish soap is this?!”

That’s my Abraham.

When he was learning to drive, one Saturday, I was in the passenger’s seat praying, when Caleb, my youngest, from the back seat, said, “Mom! I think I just saw a hawk.” After a little pause: “Well, maybe. What kind of bird has a white chest and black wings?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I suppose it could have been a hawk.”

Abraham said, “Wait a minute. White chest and black wings? A penguin has a white chest and black wings.”

Caleb missed that Abraham was yanking his chain, and, determined to logically prove that this suggestion was an impossibility, said, “Abraham. Do you really think that was a penguin?”

“Hey. A white chest and black wings!”

“But Abraham. Penguins only live in Antarctica and in zoos.”

“Well, this one could have escaped from the zoo.”

“Abraham. Do you really think that a penguin would be on a branch?”

“Well, he could have crawled up onto the branch. It might have taken him all morning, but he made it.”

“Abraham. Penguins don’t have hands. How could he have climbed to the branch?”

“Well, he could have been just crawling up using his beak and his little flippers.”

By this point, Caleb was beside himself. Steam coming out of his ears.

I interjected. “Okay, okay, that’s enough. No more fighting.”

Abraham said, “But the fighting is the fun part!”

“But, Abraham! Caleb doesn’t know you’re kidding! Caleb, Abraham knows that the bird was not a penguin. You don’t need to persuade him with all of your beautiful, logical arguments.”

Unique giftings.

Abraham, with a quick, creative brain, at an age where he’s not always the most sensitive to the feelings of others.

Caleb, precise, remembering not only where penguins come from, but the exception—zoos!—as well.

I have started to think about parenting, and life, more as excavating gifts, and calling out what those around me do well.

And occasionally mediating on behalf of a younger brother who still wrestles with various conversational cues.

The grace of King Jesus the Lord, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,

Amy Joy

P.S. Abraham spends hundreds of hours creating stop motion animation videos with Legos and silly putty and other household things. He would be delighted with more views and more subscribers. His videos range from just a few seconds to a few minutes.

My personal favorites are “Justice for Cows,” “Silly putty man #6,” and “Joe vs Natalia resounded.”

You can find his work here.