God looked down and He saw that sometimes parents were just too tired for another game of hide-and-seek or freeze tag. He knew they really needed to put their feet up for a minute while someone else engaged and entertained their sweet little Energizer Bunnies . . . 

So God made an uncle.

God made an uncle to chase and bounce and tickle and play. To burn off all the extra energy before bedtime. He made an uncle to sit and listen. To tell silly jokes and make everyone laugh just a little extra hard.

God made an uncle to join in on adventures and beat all the tough levels in the latest video game. He made an uncle to jump on trampolines like a goofball and run up the bouncy castle slide with reckless abandon.

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God made an uncle to sometimes let his nieces and nephews break a rule or two: like dessert before supper or staying up just a bit too late watching one more cartoon. He made an uncle to step in like a superhero when mom and dad are on their last thread of patience and need a kid break.

God made an uncle to push two swings at once and fly down all the slides. He made an uncle to help buckle up life jackets and cannonball into swimming pools.

God made an uncle to fill the lives of his nieces and nephews with extra smiles and words of affirmation.

God made an uncle to pop over when mom or dad need some adult conversation. He made an uncle to give advice when appropriate and provide a listening ear when needed.

God made an uncle to keep His little ones extra safe and shower them in just a little extra love. He made an uncle to sing Happy Birthday extra loud and to sneak up behind and try to blow out the candles (only joking of course!).

God made an uncle to ride on any kid ride he can fit into at the amusement park. He made an uncle to play just one more game of tic-tac-toe and roll around in the kiddie pool like a champ.

God made an uncle to throw water balloons and pick up treats at the store. He made an uncle to swing by and pick up the milk that was forgotten on the last big grocery run. He made an uncle to sit in the back seat and sing at the top of his lungs with his nieces and nephews on road trips.

God made an uncle to go for walks in the woods and help feed the birds. He made an uncle to skip rocks at the beach and buy everyone ice cream on the way home.

God made an uncle to cause the whole house to erupt into squeals as soon as he enters the front door.

He made an uncle to give high fives for school assignments done well and hang sweet little drawings on his fridge.

God made an uncle to calm the chaos when everyone is upset. He made an uncle to put together a new toy and build just one more puzzle. God made an uncle to pick blueberries and climb trees.

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Bust most of all, God made an uncle to add a little extra into the lives of his nieces and nephews so that when they are all grown up, even then, they will go to him with tough conversations and be met with a hug and “I love you.” Even then, he will play video games to help them take their minds off of the hurt they are going through. Even then, he will give just one more high five for a job well done.

And even then, he will make them laugh till their sides hurt.

So God made an uncle.

Dedicated to my brother Stanley Wells.