I Getta be Grandpa Matt!
Screamed my 6 year old grandson Zeppie.
What was he talking about? What was all the commotion about? What were the kids doing now? Well it turns out that they were role playing and picking different characters. Now I would have probably chose Batman or Superman when I was six years old, but it was pretty awesome that he wanted to play me! I think it is the dream of every grandpa to be a good influence on their grandkids, to have them look up to you, to be a role model for them to follow. Now Zeppie is pretty special. He has red hair and freckles and is full of curiosity. He is really smart and thinks deeply about whatever is on his mind. I love to tell him stories or teach him how things work. He listens intently and asks good questions. This is one of the true blessings of being a grandparent is seeing the joy of discovery in their eyes.
Many people joke that the best part of being a grandparent is spoiling the grandkids, filling them up with sugar and then dropping them back off at their parents. For me nothing could be further from the truth. The real joy of grand parenting is your perspective on the circle of life. My father will be 90 in a couple of months. My sweet mother passed over 11 years ago. Our oldest son will be 40 this year. Our oldest granddaughter recently turned sixteen! I find myself in the middle of four generations. I see my father slowing down, although he still bikes and drives. I see the first few grey hairs in my son’s beard. I see our oldest granddaughter learning to drive and the excitement of the world that it opens up to her. I see our youngest granddaughter learning to dance, but still at that cute awkward stage.
And here I sit reflecting on all these things and I am grateful for the perspective I have at my age. I think of listening to the Beatles song ‘When I’m Sixy-Four’ when I was a teenager. It was released in 1967 when I was eight. I remember thinking wow that is OLD! I couldn’t imagine being that old as I drove around in my 69 Camaro with my long hair, the stereo blasting and the windows down. You guessed it, I will be 64 this August. Where does the time go? So, the older I get the more I am grateful for my family and loved ones. The older I get the more I realize the responsibility each generation has to pass on our culture, our values, our Freedom. I am feeling the weight of this responsibility because I don’t know how many more years I have to influence and teach them. Now there are three levels of motivation… Fear, Duty, and Love. I feel this responsibility as a result of my love for them. This is the highest level of motivation. So for me I want time to teach them all they need to know before I go. How to treat others and keep their commitments. How to work hard and persevere through adversity. How to serve and love those around you. So many lessons and so little time.
My biggest regret would be not adequately preparing them for their future. I hope as you read this post you will reflect on your own family and consider what you might do to help prepare the rising generation for the trials and opportunities they will face. Don’t wait until it is too late! Families are the building blocks of strong communities and nations.
Therefore We Shall Strengthen Our Families
To our Freedom!
I was indeed thinking about the multiple generations in my own family as I read. When my son and nieces and nephew don't seem interested in learning from me, as if they know it all already, I remember that I just need to BE what I wish for them to learn as the example. Thanks, Matt!