Children’s children

Yesterday after my workday was completed I decided to go for a ride through the Grand Teton National Park, (which is about eight miles from the house I am renting for the summer). I wanted to observe the various wildlife species as they began to emerge from the black woods out into the open in search of a late evening meal. We encountered a cow moose standing in a small pond feeding, and she had a calf with her. I pulled over and got out and took some photos, (keeping my eye on her and trying my utmost to keep a safe distance, because I had no desire to upset a full grown mama moose with a calf). She kept a watchful eye on me, but allowed me the indiscretion and I took several nice photos. It was quite picturesque and a beautiful setting.

Just as we got back into the car and on the road again the cell phone rang. At first it annoyed me greatly that my peaceful journey into one of the most beautiful parks in the world was rudely interrupted by one of the world’s most annoying devices, the cell phone, but then I discovered that it was not another call concerning a work related problem as I suspected; it was my daughter in law and she told us our twin granddaughters wanted to talk to us.

I thought, “Now that’s what I’m talking about! Put those little “scutters” on!” She put one of them on and she started jabbering away. Then the other one got on and she started doing likewise. My wife was jabbering back to them and talking some sort of nauseating baby talk to them that I assume the twins enjoyed but made me want to barf, and the conversation continued for quite some time. I was very happy to hear that they inquired of me and each of them told my wife in garbled baby talk that they wanted papaw to come see them. Other than that I do not think much of anything intelligible was said, but nonetheless the conversation was wonderful in every sense of the word.

I have always been a family man and have loved my children more than life itself. Since day one I have had the strong desire for my sons to have a better life than I have had, and have worked exceedingly hard to let them know that I love them. I have worked long and difficult hours for many years in order to provide every opportunity to them and do not regret a minute of it. They are my pride and joy and I love them very much. Honestly I do not know how anyone could love someone more, but then along came grandchildren and along with it an entire new ballgame.

I don’t know what it is about them, but grandchildren are really special. The Bible tells us that they are God’s gift to old men straight out of heaven. Twins are really neat. I love to watch their eyes light up and watch them come running when they see me. Likewise it is fun for them to reach for my hand with their tiny fingers and hold hands with them when they walk. I love to watch them play, sleep, eat, come running to papaw when they get hurt or sleepy. I love for them to throw their arms around me and hug me. It makes my son mad because he does not want me to get them “all riled up” as he puts it, but the girls love for me to chase them all over the house shouting, “Fee Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of a Williamson Be she live or be she dead, I’m gonna make her bones my bread!” They enjoy this little game to no end and want me to repeat it time after time after time, and every time I start to chase them, they scream bloody murder, (which is the part my son does not like), and they take off running as fast as their tiny feet will take them to their little sofa chairs in their playroom giggling and laughing at the top of their little lungs the entire time.

Most of all I enjoy the mornings when they first wake up and are still little sleepy-heads and cuddle up and sit in my lap and stare and suck their little thumbs while deftly hanging on to their blanket with the same hand. Now let me tell you friends that is a little taste of heaven on earth. Yes God is good, all of the time, and all we need to do is look around and we will find His goodness.


Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are the
crown of old men.
And the glory of children is
their father.