I remember receiving the call while at work that your mother was in labor. Our first grandchild! As I made my way towards the hospital, all I could think of was how unprepared I was to be a grandfather. What would I do? What could I say or teach you? How I was amazed at even the opportunity to have an impact and influence of a life so small. Having never been a parent to anyone so small, I had not had the chance to play a role in the life of one so young. The chance had now come and I wanted to have my eyes wide open.
I arrived and was able to come and see you as you were being warmed under the heat of a lamp. So small and delicate, with quite a set of lungs! The next few days were a flurry of activity coming to see you and going back and forth to work. My wife, your grandmother, stayed with you and Mommy, to help and lend a mother’s wisdom. I remember coming after church to visit you all on Sunday, your 5th day in the world. They went to the store to get a few items, and I held you when you started to cry. When you didn’t stop, I thought it may be time for a diaper change. Sure enough I was right, and was proud of myself for knowing what to do, even without previous experience. Your little eyes looked at me, as I held you afterwards. What a joy to hold such a little precious life!
When your Mommy went back to work, Grandma and I spent our days with you at our house. The stages of your growth were amazing to me. The things that you were doing that I found exciting, the first time you rolled over and tried to crawl. The first steps and the many drops onto your bottom. The times you bumped your head on that table. Attempts to go down the steps by yourself into the basement. The words that came out of your mouth, even though we could not understand them. Your excitement as fire trucks and ambulances went past the big window at our house. Your excitement over the mailman delivering letters to our mailbox. The birds that would come and visit you by landing on the deck. The sheer and utter exuberance you had at the small planes flying overhead. The fun you had at the playground as you grew and were able to do things that would have been impossible only a year earlier. The quickness and pace that you ran as air filled your lungs and you took off! The excitement of snow, of leaves falling and blowing around in the fall. Splashing in the baby pool behind our house. All signs that you were growing up and we were caught up in the wonder of you and life through your eyes.
As you learned words and we taught you what everything was in the life all around you, you were more excited the more you learned and would try to repeat the words you heard. How you loved to run and play football or any kind of ball you could take off and run with. The first time you said octagon while pointing to the stop sign at the end of our street. Little Memories that have stayed with me as I have rediscovered the wonder of life through your eyes.
You are growing older now and others are teaching you how to do things that we cannot teach you now. Spelling, Writing, Reading and Math. Play, you already know from your earlier years. Your teachers and coaches will teach you specific things about different subjects, and you will continue to grow and develop and your capacity for learning will never stop. I love your deep questions—about Life, and God, and why do we have fingernails? You are a deep thinker and feel deeply about issues that you are just now hearing about. While I am terrified at all that you will discover—How humanity has done evil things to each other in the idea that one side is right and one is wrong—I know that you will ask the right questions, find the Truthful Answers and live with a deep sense of Justice. Your understanding of God and His Word is amazing to me, and the conversations we have are encouraging to my soul. As you talk with me from the back seat, I am amazed at how much you know already and seem to have an unshakeable Faith in the Truth of God’s Word. I love it!
You have reintroduced me to the faith and sense of wonder of a child. How life is not about the mundane, but about finding Life in everything. As adults we often lose this—we no longer hear the jingle of the bells at Christmas (The Polar Express), or heed the call to come to Him when we are weary and heavy laden. Although I had been no longer amazed at a bird or plane when it is in flight—I am now listening again. The beauty of Creation that calls to me every day is a reminder that He is there and that we are invited to have a tiny faith, as a child, in this massive God of the Universe and Ages past. As we push through the coats in the wardrobe and discover the life that awaits and greets us every day, the inner child is awakened to the possibilities of walking with this Loving Creator in fellowship. And I have you to thank for helping me rediscover this land that I had lost and forgotten about.
I arrived and was able to come and see you as you were being warmed under the heat of a lamp. So small and delicate, with quite a set of lungs! The next few days were a flurry of activity coming to see you and going back and forth to work. My wife, your grandmother, stayed with you and Mommy, to help and lend a mother’s wisdom. I remember coming after church to visit you all on Sunday, your 5th day in the world. They went to the store to get a few items, and I held you when you started to cry. When you didn’t stop, I thought it may be time for a diaper change. Sure enough I was right, and was proud of myself for knowing what to do, even without previous experience. Your little eyes looked at me, as I held you afterwards. What a joy to hold such a little precious life!
When your Mommy went back to work, Grandma and I spent our days with you at our house. The stages of your growth were amazing to me. The things that you were doing that I found exciting, the first time you rolled over and tried to crawl. The first steps and the many drops onto your bottom. The times you bumped your head on that table. Attempts to go down the steps by yourself into the basement. The words that came out of your mouth, even though we could not understand them. Your excitement as fire trucks and ambulances went past the big window at our house. Your excitement over the mailman delivering letters to our mailbox. The birds that would come and visit you by landing on the deck. The sheer and utter exuberance you had at the small planes flying overhead. The fun you had at the playground as you grew and were able to do things that would have been impossible only a year earlier. The quickness and pace that you ran as air filled your lungs and you took off! The excitement of snow, of leaves falling and blowing around in the fall. Splashing in the baby pool behind our house. All signs that you were growing up and we were caught up in the wonder of you and life through your eyes.
As you learned words and we taught you what everything was in the life all around you, you were more excited the more you learned and would try to repeat the words you heard. How you loved to run and play football or any kind of ball you could take off and run with. The first time you said octagon while pointing to the stop sign at the end of our street. Little Memories that have stayed with me as I have rediscovered the wonder of life through your eyes.
You are growing older now and others are teaching you how to do things that we cannot teach you now. Spelling, Writing, Reading and Math. Play, you already know from your earlier years. Your teachers and coaches will teach you specific things about different subjects, and you will continue to grow and develop and your capacity for learning will never stop. I love your deep questions—about Life, and God, and why do we have fingernails? You are a deep thinker and feel deeply about issues that you are just now hearing about. While I am terrified at all that you will discover—How humanity has done evil things to each other in the idea that one side is right and one is wrong—I know that you will ask the right questions, find the Truthful Answers and live with a deep sense of Justice. Your understanding of God and His Word is amazing to me, and the conversations we have are encouraging to my soul. As you talk with me from the back seat, I am amazed at how much you know already and seem to have an unshakeable Faith in the Truth of God’s Word. I love it!
You have reintroduced me to the faith and sense of wonder of a child. How life is not about the mundane, but about finding Life in everything. As adults we often lose this—we no longer hear the jingle of the bells at Christmas (The Polar Express), or heed the call to come to Him when we are weary and heavy laden. Although I had been no longer amazed at a bird or plane when it is in flight—I am now listening again. The beauty of Creation that calls to me every day is a reminder that He is there and that we are invited to have a tiny faith, as a child, in this massive God of the Universe and Ages past. As we push through the coats in the wardrobe and discover the life that awaits and greets us every day, the inner child is awakened to the possibilities of walking with this Loving Creator in fellowship. And I have you to thank for helping me rediscover this land that I had lost and forgotten about.
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