Week 399

Positive post Sunday, October 20, 2024…. Week 399.  I often reflect on how blessed I am to be the grandpa (actually “Papa”) to twelve wonderful grandchildren: Nikole, Kendall, Christian, Andrew, Sean, Chad, Austin, Aubrey, Liam, Juliana, Benjamin, and Amelia. Did I get them all in the right birth order, Michele 😊?  Being a grandfather is a gift beyond measure. It’s not just about sharing our wisdom or telling old stories, although I do enjoy sharing the past with them, especially our family history. It’s about being a simple, active, and profound presence in our grandchildren’s lives. Every laugh, every tear, every moment of discovery, brings us closer, creating a bond that transcends time.

To be a grandfather is to recognize that the smallest acts of kindness and the quietest moments of togetherness often leave the most lasting impressions. As grandfathers, we don’t just live our lives; we imprint it on the hearts of those who come after us.

I thank God for each and every one of my grandchildren and pray that He shepherds them throughout their lives. I also pray that they keep God at the center of their lives, seeking His guidance and giving Him thanks as they navigate through their life journeys. It is also my hope that they will refer to my many Positive Posts Sundays to help them as they grow, and someday carry on the tradition.  Below is a prayer I wrote for them.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the precious gift of all my grandchildren.  I humbly kneel before You, seeking Your guidance and grace to be the best Papa I can be.  Help me to impart Your love, wisdom, and strength in their lives. Grant me the patience and understanding to guide them in Your ways.  May my actions reflect Your teachings and inspire them to keep You at the center of their lives.

Bless our time together and fill it with joy, love, and meaningful memories.  Let my legacy be one of faith, kindness, and unwavering trust in You.  And Father, with your love and guidance, may they use my Positive Post Sundays as a resource throughout their lives and carry forward the Triangle of Life: Faith, Family and Fitness, to our generations to come.

In Your holy name I pray,
Amen

I also think back on the influence my Grandpas Papa and Papa Joe had on my life growing up. I’m grateful for the love and life lessons they shared with me in my early years. I draw my energy and compassion from Papa and my strength and determination from Papa Joe.

Thinking about the precious time I spent with my grandfathers reminded me of the “The Awesome Story Of ‘Grandpa’s Hands,” published on September 3, 2013, by Michael Dot Scott.  Here’s the link to the story:  The Awesome Story Of ‘Grandpa’s Hands’ (973thedawg.com).  I encourage you to read it.

Looking deep into Grandpa’s Hands reveals a legacy of love and tells a lifetime of stories. They’ve built, nurtured, and held the family together. They’re hands that have worked hard, loved deeply, and comforted in times of need. Those hands, with their wisdom and strength, pass down more than just genes—they pass down a legacy of love, faith, and unwavering support.  I pray that I’m half the Papa my grandpas were to me.

For all the grandfathers out there, how are you enriching the lives of your grandchildren?

For all the grandchildren out there, what do you see in your Grandpa’s Hands?