The Gifts of Years

A few years ago, I noticed that people often held the door open for me as I went into the gas station store and they often called me “Sir.” (I wasn't sure I liked either at first.) But, there is an upside to aging. McDonald's has “senior coffee.” Our appliance repairman gives a senior discount, and many other businesses also reward one for being aged. There are many benefits to longevity.

Last Sunday, Doris and I reaped one of the benefits of great-grandparenthood. We traveled to Jackson and saw Jay Victor Marchewka dedicated to the Lord in a worship service at JaxNaz Church.  It was a gift to us--a benefit to our aging--a God-directed blessing. We are grateful for our children and grandchildren who walk in and with the Lord. We have every confidence that Jenna and Jordan will raise little Jay in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord.

Being a great-grandparent seems rather tangential in our culture. (Father Abraham would not have liked our lifestyle.) However, when I think of the heritage of one of my great-grandfathers whom I never knew, and how I occasionally bask in it, as well as the influence of grandparents and parents, it gives me pause. There is a convergent chain in which Doris and I are links, and we make that chain unique, as does everyone else in it.  Being part of a chain requires a certain interdependence--we rise to the calling. (“May Those who Come Behind us Find Us Faithful”) We are not “ just poor wayfaring strangers traveling through this world of woe,” unless we so choose. We are image-bearing dominioners, part of a great dance, greater than we can imagine, but directed by the Sovereign who came to live with and in us. (I love title and content of Thomas Howard’s book, Chance or the Dance.)

I am so joyful that baby Jay's parents introduced him to this great dance, even though he doesn’t yet understand it--he will. And, I am reminded of Wesley’s coinage of “prevenient grace”- grace that is there ahead of time and is available. And to think that we are part of that-----

     My cup runneth over.