Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan!

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

Perhaps one of my favorite quotes concerning grandchildren is from an anonymous contributor: “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” Fifteen years ago I discovered the truth of it with the birth of our first two grandchildren. Faith and Logan are fifteen! It hardly seems possible that much time has passed so quickly. We have three other grandchildren as well. Maggie, Harris, and Lucy live in Florida. Some might have believed that subsequent grandchildren are somehow not as spectacular as the first; however, I can attest to the truth that each of them continues to fill that space I had no idea I even had! The picture I’ve chosen to accompany today’s thought was taken earlier this year. It was their first day of high school! They have grown so much over these fifteen years; and, the space they fill in my life has only grown with them. I suppose that’s what Solomon meant when he declared that grandchildren are a “crown of the aged.” That declaration has been an incredible help to me as I have ministered to the grandchildren of aged saints as they grieve. The key is in our understanding the meaning of the word “crown.” A crown is extravagantly jeweled. If you get the opportunity see the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, you will see the actual crown of Queen Elizabeth. It is valued at 750 million dollars. The 140 different royal objects in the collection are valued at 11 billion dollars! Even the relatively plain crowns of rulers in Solomon’s day were incredibly valuable. So, the Scripture is clear when we are instructed that grandchildren are valuable to us. They are valuable because they are each irreplaceable and unique. Think of the forethought God had in the creation of each of them. Indeed, this is a present reminder of how each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (cf. Psalm 139:14). I also find this “crown” as a reward and honor with the reality of my grandchildren. It means that my life has mattered. It will continue on, at least, through succeeding generations. It gives me that there is hope for the future! The amazing gift of family becomes vivid in subsequent generations. I am very blessed to be able to live so close to Faith and Logan. It makes seeing them and experiencing all the experiences much easier. However, it is not these things that make the difference. There is a great lesson for me in that they were born on Thanksgiving Day that year. The difference is in the realization of the relationship I have with my earthly family and my heavenly Father that makes it all possible. Happy Birthday, Faith and Logan!