Episode 9; Papa

Whether you call them Grandpa and Grandma or Nonno eh Nonna or Abuelo y Abuelita, every grandparent ever will tell you the same thing without hesitation: there is nothing happier than grandchildren. 

This is a proverbial truth. And I mean literally. In Proverbs 17, super wise Solomon says it like this:

“Children’s children are the crown of the aged.”

You feel that?

Grandchildren are the crowning joy and validation of a life well lived.

A cherry on top of a killer sundae. 
A Gatorade bath at the end of a super bowl win.
A magnificent sunset culminating a happy beach day. 
A crown.

That is what grandchildren are in a man’s life.

And not just because you get to buy them Richie’s Slush, or take them to see the fireworks, or let them watch two straight hours of SpongeBob, but because you are given another chance to model for and share with your own flesh and blood the goodness of God and grace of His gospel. 

Don’t ever forget that when the Apostle Paul was encouaring young pastor Timothy to hold fast to gospel truth and throw himself with no fear into the difficult work of leading Christ’s church in Ephesus, he said to him, “Don’t forget that your confidence in Christ is not new, It dwelt first in your grandmother Lois.” 

Isn’t that beautiful? 

God works through generations, and if we live long enough to become grandparents, he lets us see that faithfulness all the way to the last chapters of our lives.

-

If there was a world championship belt for most fun, most involved, most present papa, my dad would have held it. Let’s just say that he fit right in with his grandchildren.

In this episode, I asked him to talk about that, and about the unique relationship that he forged with each of his 8 grandchildren, oldest to youngest.