I am writing this message to you from the suburbs of Washington DC.  Cindy and I flew up here on Tuesday to spend a week with Shelli and her family, most importantly, with our precious granddaughters Gentry and Greer.  One of the real benefits of the coronavirus for us has been to spend more time with close family.  As some of you know, our son Stevie and his family have been in Gainesville since early March, so we have also seen them almost continuously this spring and summer.   Cindy and I are “old” grandparents of “young” grandchildren, having precious granddaughters 7, 6, 5, and 1 year of age.  Most of our friends have college age or adult grandchildren, and maybe even great grandchildren.  Whatever their age, grandchildren and great grandchildren are to be treasured!

 

Proverbs 17:6 – Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

 

The special part of being able to share this much time with our young grandchildren is to have at least some small part in their early development.    Once they start school, the opportunity to influence their choices is decreased due to so many external sources clamoring for their attention.  So having special time with them at this stage of their lives has been so important and special to us.

 

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

Maybe your blessing has instead been more time with your adult children.  What a blessing that is also, because we couldn’t have our grandchildren without having children!!!  So you are blessed as well if you have received more attention from your children during this difficult time.

 

Psalm 127:3-5a – Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.  ⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  ⁵ How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

 

Whether your blessing during coronavirus has been time with grandchildren, children, other family members, your Covenant family, or other friends, I sincerely hope you have had the blessing of shared time with others in your life recently.  Because of the stress we have all felt during this pandemic, it is clear that at times we have strayed nerves, short tempers, anxiety, hurt feelings, etc – it is all human reaction to those around us and often times occurs the strongest to those closest to us.

 

Colossians 3:13 – bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

 

In closing, I pray that you can rejoice in your positive blessings during this difficult time, for we know that they are there if we seek them. 

 

Thessalonians 5:16-18 –  Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

AMEN!