Good Morning,
The arrival of a grandchild is a pretty special event, but what makes it so special from any other birth? Maybe it could be the joy of seeing a new life come into this world, while in itself is a miracle to even the harshest of skeptics, can still be shared with all newborns. Is it that there is something about the innocence and vulnerability of a newborn that can capture our altruistic nature and compel us to want to protect and nurture all babies? Again, I think this still applies to all infants, kittens and puppies included.
To me, a grandchild is all that and much, much more, for that newborn child carries our genes to the next generation, if only a portion of the strongest and hopefully the best ones. That special child then becomes our bid for immortality, as each generation carries on to the next. So then… is it the tacit knowledge that we can live on in another for at least a few more decades after we reach our final reward? Is it this that makes the arrival that much more special? After all, I think most of us, would like to live forever, at least in spirit, for if not, what would be the point of a Heaven? At the very least least the principle of passing down our genes should appeal to both the faithful as well as the non-believer. Usually the feelings for our child or grandchild are so strong that we would give our own life for them. It is indeed a bond like no other and because we are in essence protecting part of ourselves, fully justified is the sacrifice.
I think it is human nature to see ourselves in our children and grandchildren, so much so is the bond that when they laugh, we laugh, when they are joyful, we are joyful, when they feel pain, we feel pain and when they cry, we cry. We celebrate their victories as well as their defeats all the time knowing it takes both to appreciate life to the fullest. They bring wonder and fullness to our own lives in ways like nothing else can.
So on the 16th September 2010, Sophie Alese Long arrived into this world at 9:01pm, weighing in at 7lb 5oz and 19½ inches long. The first born child to Michael and Kelly (Mitton) Long and now… their life has changed forever as they too experience in wonder what can only be lived.
This is not a new experience for me since I have been blessed with other grandchildren; some are tied to me by blood and others by the bond of love. It is just that this kind of life event doesn’t come around every day and it needs to be celebrated and enjoyed as one of the beautiful things about having family.
So today, I celebrate life, elated in the realization that I have made it to the milestone of “65” years, (officially a Senior), joyful to have a new granddaughter (Sophie) in our family, and grateful for the love of friends, family and the blessings of an enduring (34yr) marriage.
Love, Dad