Grandchildren

Good morning to each of you!

Hopefully, you completed all your "last minute" details yesterday, and you are, now, resting and waiting for the Big Day--Christmas--however, for some reason, I am having a difficult time believing that you have. My doubting is probably somehow related to the fact that I had the privilege of entertaining my grandchildren, Sydney & Caroline, for a good part of yesterday, and in doing so, we visited several of Macon's shopping centers, and in each case it appeared that the entire population of Georgia had the same idea. Why does the entire world wait until just before Christmas to prepare for what we have known about for at least a year. I just do not get it! Thankfully, my mission had to do with entertaining Sydney and Caroline, so I could observe the mass confusion from a distance, and was I ever glad!

Anyway, through a series of events that really have no relevance to what I am attempting to share with you, over that past several days, I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with my grandchildren--Sydney & Caroline--and we have had lots of fun. Actually, "fun" wasn't the best choice of words because we did much more than have mere fun; in fact,we bonded in a way that we had not heretofore done. They are growing up through some very difficult times in their lives, and in doing so they are experiencing more (much more) than their young minds can assimilate. They have already experienced more significant loss, than I have in my entire lifetime. Yes, I know that God will use these present experiences in their lives for good He really does cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose!)but I also know that they probably do not grasp that just now. Enter Granddaddy!

I want to preface what I am about to say with this: as much as I love the privilege of being their granddaddy, by the end of a day with them, I am worn out, even to a frazzle, and looking for the relief team! Enter Mama or Grandma, and the sooner, the better!!

Having said that, let me proceed with what I want to say: while the rest (apparently) of the world has been busy racing from one store to another, fighting crowds of people, standing in long lines, I have been lazily spending some incredibly wonderful "time" with two of the most precious people of earth, my grandchildren. We have laughed and played all over Macon (I have pictures to prove it), why we even managed to have a blast getting a few surprise gifts for some very special people in their lives (yes, I did spend some money but I did not stand in one long line), and we have eaten in too many restaurants to mention (the only one I refused was Applebees!). At the end of these long days, I was (to be sure) tired, but I was also very blessed and very thankful for such a wonderful and treasured Christmas Present--one I will never forget!

I am praying that He will sneak up on you, as He did me, and surprise you with such a wonderful gift--one that all the money on the planet cannot purchase!

Much love,
Your Pastor