I like new stuff. Don't get me wrong; I'm fond of old stuff, too, but there's something exciting about an updated automobile or a never lived in house. As a kid, I loved bicycles that had never been scratched, footballs yet to be scuffed, baseball gloves in desperate need of oil and "breaking in." A new shotgun without a speck of rust was a treasure to behold. And, back when the city of Atlanta was known as "Loserville" because of our pro teams' collective lack of success, each new season brought a host of dreams. "Wait 'til next year," Atlanta fans always said, clinging to the hope afforded by a fresh start.
You know what new thing is better than all that put together? A new grandbaby, that's what!! Our oldest son, Miles, and his lovely bride, Kimberly, are expecting their first child! Certainly, I'm rather fond of the two we already have, but . . . SPOILER ALERT - a new little boy just increases the fun.
He'll be here before we know it. The doctor pegged the due date as March 29, but the latest ultrasound measurements indicate his parents might need to have their bags packed and ready a couple of weeks earlier. Either way, my beloved and I are going to be loving on a tiny human with a month and a half or so.
Through the years, I've repeatedly heard people extolling the joy of being a grandparent. Frankly, I thought they were exaggerating, not because I didn't think grandkids would be fun, but because I didn't think they could be more fun than having kids of my own. I love being a father, and I loved it from the first moment she told me she was expecting. Sure, there were times I wanted to pull my hair out and a few times I wanted to "skin them alive," as my mother used to say. All in all, however, raising our sons was an absolute blast! So, how could grandkids beat that?
Yet . . . there's a reason people carry on about grandchildren. Right? So, what is it?
First, there's the Ultimate Responsibility factor. Yes, I want my grandkids to turn out well and I'm highly invested in their safety, their welfare, their futures. But the buck doesn't stop with me. Which means that when they're with me, I can relax a little and just enjoy the moment.
Second, there's the Novelty factor. They don't live with us, so it's a big deal when we see them. We can focus on them, and they on us. We're something out of the ordinary, something novel, maybe even a little exciting. Thus, we try to pack some extra fun into whatever time we have with them.
Third, there's the Grandparent Rules factor. Because the time is special, then certain rules that must be followed at home might be bent, relaxed, overlooked, even forgotten. I'm pretty sure Miss Hazel doesn't eat a Popsicle every afternoon at home, but she and Hubba slurp one down while watching the birds and squirrels in the backyard. Mr. Alden might not get quite as many Goldfish with his parents. They might stay up a little later than usual. We might read an extra book or tell an extra story. And if they want pizza two meals in a row, then we're eating pizza.
All that impacts it, but I really think there's more to it than that. I say this because people who live really close to their grandchildren, who see them almost every day, even every day, still often gush about grandparenting. Ultimately, I'm convinced that being a grandparent simply expands the love. I still have my two sons, both of whom are extraordinary young men. Now, my world includes their wives, two exceptional young ladies who have enriched mine and Regina's life incredibly. And then the next generation comes rolling in.
The family unit expands incrementally by addition. A child is born. A wedding brings another into the family circle. One by one, person by person. Addition.
But love expands by multiplication. When Miles, our firstborn, arrived, our family grew by 50% but our hearts by far more. When Cole was born, we didn't have to split our love; rather, it just grew more than we could imagine. Growth by multiplication isn't incremental; it's exponential.
It all makes sense if we keep God in the equation. His love isn't divided or diminished. Instead, it just keeps spreading to encompass every new soul added to our world. And that will include that little baby boy I can't wait to welcome into mine!
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