“They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.
Genesis 48:9
This blessing I have of being a grandfather is both beautiful in its simplicity and complex in terms of how – creatively – to maintain these so-important relationships.
The children are – as you already know – David (11), Beks (10), and Geoffrey (2) – in Orlando; then Mr. T. (4 in a couple of weeks) in Bahrain.
I do pretty well staying connected with the Orlando three. Rebekah and I were privileged to spend so much time with David and Beks when they were very young, and it seems like we talk on video just about every day now. But Mr. T. lives in Bahrain, and the most I have ever managed to be with him has been three visits over this past year (a week here in NC last summer, a week in the U.K. in October, then our recent week in Michigan).
So this morning I want to build a post around the above image, taken when Rebekah and I had “T” all to ourselves for an entire afternoon and evening in Michigan.
Holding hands with Grandaddy, walking into the store. Just being Grandaddy and Grandson. Nothing else necessary.
This is what I want. I want unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, normal, routine day-to-day experiences that add up, over time, to something substantial.
Sure, playing extreme-croquet on the epic sands at Camber was amazing fun… as was making memories in Michigan, exploring Dow Gardens together. But what I really want is walking around the hardware store, reading stories at bedtime, picking him up from school, making pancakes together for breakfast, walking the dog night after night.
What I want (what I need) is a natural, predictable, familiar, ongoing relationship. Now that would be epic.
We respect the international life and path Andrew and Alicia have chosen, for a season or a lifetime. But when I have the opportunity I will gladly – thankfully – take all the Mr. T. that I can get.
You are my grandson, “T.”. I pray that one day it really takes hold – DEREK
- (P.S. I just found this blessing I crafted, from his parents’ engagement 11 years ago!)
May the early sweetness of your love move naturally into the rich satisfaction that is a life-long journey. Take the challenges, the opportunities, the graces, the pitfalls, the surprises, the constant adventure… and meet it all head on with the faithfulness and commitment that characterize the kind of relationships that God uses to literally change the world for good. Love is – always – a choice; you have chosen one-another, and you have chosen well. God’s rich blessings and abundant, grace-laden, love.
2012
