Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan!

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6 ESV).

I am “crowned” five times according to this verse. Faith, Logan, Maggie, Harris, and Lucy are certainly the apple of my eye. Each of them are so unique and special in our lives as grandparents. Today I am only going to mention Faith and Logan as it is their 14th birthday! It hardly seems that is possible as the time has sped by. We have been entirely blessed to have watched them since their birth being close enough geographically to have watched all those little moments of life. This picture was taken yesterday at their "party." To say I am amazed is certainly an understatement. Their accomplishments are many, even at such a young age. To list them would only serve to sound like the boasting Grandpa that I really am! However, that would not serve the purpose of focusing on them as encouragement for us today. Grandchildren are our hope for the future. Our reading and others indicate that the elderly find a “crown” of reward and honor in being surrounded by grandchildren (cf. Proverbs 16:31; Genesis 48:11; and Psalm 128:5-6). Our lives have mattered, in a sense, through succeeding generations. We not only raised up godly sons and daughters, but they raised them to raise up the same kind of children. That is our hope for the future. This is a blessing for me today. However, I also know that is not everyone’s story or situation. It is not necessarily the case that grandchildren are a blessing to their parents, any more than fathers necessarily bring glory to their children. The Scripture reminds us that “He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy (cf. Proverbs 17:21, 25). If you are going through the pain of a wayward child, an unfaithful spouse, or some other broken family relationship, my heart is indeed broken for you. I’m not sure that there is any category of pain worse than family pain. I’ve watched people battle cancer, heart disease, and paralysis. I’ve seen others lose jobs and careers. Yet, is has been my experience personally, and my observation as a pastor and counselor, that there is something uniquely devastating about the pain of the broken family. While that is not my journey, let me encourage you today. God has a plan for your good, even in this. Your blessing is already prepared and sealed for your arrival at the end of your journey. Do not lose hope. The end of the story, while written in the heart and mind of our God, is not yet revealed. Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan! You encourage me; you are a crown in my old age. And, I pray my blessing will be an encouragement to all of you who read this little bit of inspiration today.