I was a youth pastor in a growing
church in upstate New York when I was in my twenties. I remember spending a lot
of time with parents of teenagers who were struggling with issues and problems
with their children. I tried to be supportive and encouraging, but was not
always successful. I remember one dad once telling me, “Until you have had a
teenager, you can’t really understand. You’ll never know.” I remember inwardly
bristling about that, because I thought it was
possible to have an idea of what parents went through, even though I was not
yet a parent. After all, Catholic priests and counselors of many types serve
others whose experiences are not a part of their own. Why couldn’t I as a youth
pastor?
There are different levels of
understanding, however. Cognitive awareness is good, but it lacks the full
experience of emotion and personal involvement that being the parent entails. I
could be sympathetic, and maybe even empathetic to a point, but I have to
admit: when I became a parent and eventually the parent of a teenager it was a
lot different than just knowing about kids. These children were my responsibility. Their lives were in my hands. The working out of life in
relationship with a child is intense and deep in ways that are very different
than a more third-party connection. There are definitely things that are more
fully realized and understood through experience. To say “I was happy the day
the Red Sox won their first world series in 86 years,” is one thing. To say, “I
was at the game in St. Louis the day they won it,” is another thing.
All of this is to get me to the joy
of becoming a grandparent. I have heard many wonderful things about having a
grandchild. I believed the people who said them and understood the concepts
that they expressed. But actually becoming a grandfather about four weeks ago
was so much better. You feel the joys of your child, and you are joyful for her
(or him). You also feel new fears and worries for the new baby and his
well-being and his future. You spend your time just looking at him and you feel
a depth of love that goes back to when you had your own children. You’re proud
of your daughter and son-in-law and prayerful that God will supply all they
need to be loving, godly parents. All of this and more comes into your life and
it is wonderful. You feel tremendously blessed and you appreciate the depths of
God’s grace. You put your grandson and his parents into God’s hands, because he
belongs to the Lord.
There was nothing new to becoming a
grandparent. People do it all the time. It is a common experience that’s really
no big deal… until you see him – your
grandson - for the first time and you are the one he’s going to call Grampa
or Grammie (or whatever works in your family). The Bible speaks about such
experiences as being a blessing from the Lord. For this blessing I glorify God
and lift up my heart in thanksgiving. And for blessings like this (and
different as well), I encourage you to bless the Lord today. AMEN.
Psalm 103:15-17 (NIV) 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he
flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind
blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But
from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's
love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's
children--
Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV) 5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs
of joy. 6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to
sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Proverbs 17:6 (NIV) Children's children are a crown to the
aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
Psalm 139:14-18 (NIV) 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My
frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was
woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes
saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me
are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were
I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am
still with you.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the joy and privilege of
being a grandfather. May your blessing be on Mason and on his mom and dad. May
Jesus Christ be the center of that home and their life together, and may you be
glorified much in them and through them. Thank you that you knew him before he
was even made in his mother’s womb. May he know from his earliest moments how
great is your love for him, and may he walk with you all the days of his life. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
