You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

2 Timothy 2:1-2

So I just checked my calendar and – yet again – time seems determined to sneak up and take us by surprise.

November 15 is not just another day on the calendar, it also marks birthday number three for our youngest grandchild, Geoffrey, “Mr. Irrepressible” himself. I have no doubt that this morning, way too early by far, he launched himself out of bed with the following enthusiastic observation, “SUN; UP!” before doing his best to persuade the rest of his family it was time for some kind of shenanigans.

Three is a great age. Geoffrey is a wonderful child. But he is, in a word – or three – unstoppable… effervescent… uncontainable…. There are more words, certainly, but I think you get the gist.

This is how I know that God is still in the creation business. There are literally billions of humans on Earth and yet along comes one more, and there has never in the history of three-year-olds been a single example of anything like this one!

I think maybe they should put him in the dictionary as a verb. I can already imagine the scenarios. It’s 2029 and a dad in upstate New York will be correcting his youngest: “Johnny, I’ve told you before not to Geoffrey so much in the living room. Please go outside.” Or a young mother in Kansas, circa 2035. “Really children; it’s a school night and you know the rules: don’t Geoffrey till your homework is done.” Or a sign at the local mall: “No skateboarding, running or Geoffreying allowed!”

My birthday message:

Dear Geoffrey; happy happy birthday! What fun it is to watch you grow. You are so very curious, and inventive, and energetic, and iridescent, and literally stuffed full to bursting with light and life and promise. We hope that you have so much fun today; but, more than that, we pray that you understand how much you are loved and how much your love can bring light and joy to everyone you know. Our best gift to you is the blessing of a strong family, where you can feel safe and secure and loved; I pray that nothing ever causes you to lose confidence in that. Then my best word for you today is something I first read on a sign outside a nearby house. “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” We love you so much, Geoffrey.

Grandaddy Derek

In love, and because when love is defined in the New Testament the description always involves the phrase “love is kind” – DEREK