I’m a Grandpa… twice over. My two grandsons are a delight.
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. – Proverbs 17:6
As I watch my two grandsons, play with them and spoil them only as a Grandpa should, I have rekindled the child in me… playing with cars, trains, lego, and in the sandpit.
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3
Ah, the Kingdom of Heaven. As it is written, “May your Kingdom come, here on earth as it is in heaven”.
We all go through the seasons of life.
When we are young, we are carefree and have boundless enthusiasm.
As we get older, our experiences shape our lives and adjust our perspectives and paradigms.
What was once no concern of ours becomes our own burden. Who, as a child, worried about the roof over their head and that food would be on the table? Did we even notice the furrow on our parent’s forehead as they struggled to make ends meet?
“Wise children bring joy to their father, but foolish children despise their mother.” – Proverbs 15:20
My daughter, having children of her own, understands that the responsibility of a parent is now hers and her understanding of her mum’s wisdom profoundly increases as her paradigm shifts…. greater respect and understanding as her parental experience deepens and she builds upon it. My daughter is not foolish. And her Dad is delighted in her.
It could be easy to sour under the stress of parenthood. And some parents fold under the pressure. Relationships break down, depression is rife, fathers abdicate their responsibilities, mums are left to pick up the pieces as best they can. Mums run off too and dads are left to pick up the pieces.
In the fallout of such breakdowns, many kids perspectives on life are soured or corrupted early and adulthood is just that much harder to enter.
And sure, as adults, we could easily be jaded by the past, burdened by the present and worried about the future.
Yet, there is hope. Always.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
And there is joy.
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” – Psalm 94:19
Hope and Joy. Oh, to have hope and discover sweet joy once again. That pure unadulterated joy.
Just like my grandson, in a puddle of mud and water.
Not a care in the world.
Simple.
Fun.
Delighted in the moment.
Pure joy.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:2-5
No hope? No joy? Ask God.
Not sure how? Here is the answer.
My hope is that you will experience joy, pure joy, just as my grandsons do…and their Grandpa!