The Blessings of Grandchildren

It has been said that grandchildren are God's reward to parents for not killing their children.  A little dark humor perhaps, but one very true aspect is that grandchildren are truly gifts from God. 

Raising your children is an adventure not to be missed.  You grow up as your children do.  You are both continually charting new territory daily.  It's fun, but it can be hectic, frantic, frustrating, exasperating, and sometimes heartbreaking.  I wouldn't change it for the world.

But grandchildren are different.  You are older (definitely) and wiser (supposedly), and you know from experience that some of the "life-threatening" and panic-ridden situations are really not as bad as they seem.  Also, when you get tired and need a break from them, you can just give them back to their parents!  (Not that you get tired of them, but simply that you get tired.)  Further, not having to manage everything for the children as their parents must, you have the opportunity to watch them learn and grow from a bit of a distance, and that can be great fun.

Over the past couple of days, I have "graffitied" the grotto in my pool with each of my grandchildren's names (9) and even the granddog.  I carefully designed each name to make it unique and somewhat expressive of each individual child.  It was interesting to consider each child, the parents they have and their position in their family hierarchy.  They will grow up in different areas of the country and encounter very different situations and experiences. Although they are all very young right now, they are each individuals with their own perspectives which they will express more and more as they grow.  They are all first cousins, but they only have one thing truly in common - Nana and Og are one set of their grandparents. (They also share three great-grandparents, but that is not my point.) 

God willing, Nana and I will be able to watch them grow up into fine young adults, albeit at a distance.  We look forward to taking part in many of the exciting and wonderful events they will have.  We love them as dearly as possible and will do anything we can for them.  It is quite true that grandchildren are blessings from God, and Nana and Og are truly blessed.