Schnickelfritz!

No! I am not fooling! All these years I thought my dear, sweet grandmother made up this word. Only just today I have learned that schnickelfritz, pronounced (shnik-uhl-frits) is a real word, coming to us from the Pennsylvania Dutch. My grandmother called me this quite often. Here’s what I learned this morning.

It is a noun meaning (1) troublemaker referring to little child; (2) a child, especially a mischievous, noisy child; especially as a nickname or term of endearment; (3) a teasing term of endearment, something like you little rascal; (4) a silly, rascally little boy.

Well, how do you like that?

Those who know me from my days of childhood now understand why my grandmother called me a schnickelfritz as a term of endearment in spite of me being noisy and mischievous! How thankful I am for the spiritual investment and encouragement from both of my grandmothers. As I grew from childhood through my teenage years and beyond, it was a joy to know that my grandmothers loved the Lord and belonged to Him.

Paul spoke to Timothy about the spiritual investment of his mother and grandmother. He said, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

May I encourage each of us to continue to pray for children and teenagers today. Be an example and encouragement to the children with whom you make contact. This is especially true if you have grandchildren. This is doubly especially true if you have a “schnickelfritz!” in your family!