FAMILY TIES

Numbers 28:16-29-40; Luke 3:23-38; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 11:18-19

 “Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli.”

 “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.”

My father in-law was a terrific grandfather who gave us many fond memories of weekends at his lake house.  The place was a madhouse with four families and nine grandkids running around. When Granddaddy wasn’t fishing or napping, though, he invariably couId be found on the porch, just enjoying the chaos. Never was any man prouder of his grandkids. They would play before him with utterly no sense of shame. In fact, more than one Mud Monster (translation: goop-covered kid) threatened the clean inside of Grandmother’s house, but as far as defenses were concerned, she was pretty much on her own. (Actually, while he was smart enough not to ever admit it, I think Granddaddy frequently rooted for the kids.) He lavished each with unconditional love as if he or she was the only one. Yet, the purity of his love also assured the children were never spoiled rotten. He did not resort to cheap gifts or simple words.  To this day, I am not sure I recall him ever actually saying “I love you” to one of the kids. Instead, he spoke through action, and gave the most precious gift – attention – to each child. Nothing was more important that teaching our youngest the proper fishing knot so “Ol’ Fighter” would be sure to stay hooked if the mythical beast ever really did strike. Later, if a car needed fixin,’ it was always Granddaddy to the rescue. He was a man of clear priority, and if things needed doing around the lake place when the grandkids were around, well heck, that was what sons in-law were for!

I wish I had been more appreciative of Granddaddy when we had him.  I wish I had paid better attention, and had learned more from him about how to relate to my kids. But I didn’t understand the priority then. I was too driven. I never stopped to consider what Granddaddy always knew: that each moment is precious; our time is limited; and even our recall of human love is too soon lost, if not intentionally imbedded in the memory.  That is what Granddaddy did best – he specialized in making memories, his own and others’.

So, somewhat unexpectedly, today is a tribute to a great man. He’s gone ahead home now, and I’m sure he’ll greet me with his usual strong handshake and belly laugh when I get to heaven. But really, he’ll keep a-waitin’ (just possibly, in that same old chair he kept on the porch), patient as ever, because he’ll still have his priorities… to love on his grandkids. Maybe this is a first step for me to be sure my kids understand how precious it is to have a grandfather like that, to have someone who is always willing to wait up for them.  Maybe it’s also a reminder that Christ is waiting for all of us just that way. I certainly understand Granddaddy was not Jesus. But he knew how to love unconditionally until it hurt, and from where I stand now, that made him a pretty close relative.