grandchildren. crowning moments...

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged..."  Proverbs 17:6

This is the only way I'm okay with being called "aged" right now.
God said it...and I'm not gonna argue with God.

If having grandchildren is the determining factor
between "youth" and "aged"...I'm good with that.

I'm also good with a crown  not made of gold
filled with pearls, sapphires and diamonds...

But one made of skin, poopie diapers, spit up and drool
filled with a soul.

The chief end of gems is temporal and fleeting.
The chief end of souls is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

As Bethany and Peter dedicated their son, Hudson,
our grandson and "crown", to the Lord last Sunday...

I felt an intense longing and desire for God to save Hudson,
as well as an urgency to pray for Bethany and Peter as they raise him.

I remembered when Sweet Husband and I stood on a platform
dedicating our sweet baby Bethany to the Lord...

...and for a split-second felt regret nipping at my mind's heels,
for all the pride, selfishness, and worldliness that had crept in,

resulting in heartache and destruction...
the inevitable results of sin...always.

Then as fast as my pity-party began...it was over...
as I looked on the platform and saw Bethany, Peter and Hudson.

Bethany with her head bowed in prayer.
Peter holding Hudson and kissing his sweet head.
Hudson looking up smiling...as if he saw God smiling at him.

The Holy Spirit whispered and reminded me
what I was gazing at were evidences of God's sovereign grace.

This moment and every moment past and to come
are not, never have been and never will be...about me.

They are living testimonies to our Sovereign God
who is fashioning all of his creation after his perfect will.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."  (Ephesians 1: 3-10)

May Bethany and Peter run this race called parenthood

with their eyes fixed on their Savior, Jesus Christ...believing that
"he who began this good work will be faithful to complete it
at the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

May Hudson, one day, join with the great multitude and shout,

"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the 
Lamb!"  (Revelation 7:10)

May Sweet Husband and I not wear our crown as if he was our own.

May we lay our crown at the feet of Jesus...

for he alone is "worthy to receive glory, honor and power." (Revelation 4:11)

Amen.