The Open Door

There is nothing quite like hearing a knock at the back door and realizing that the grandchildren are here. I open the door and they flood the room with their presence, all seven at one time. The air is filled with squeals and laughter and I get surrounded and my legs squeezed with loving hugs from all seven.

As they grow, the hugs will move upward, I suppose. Whatever the case, these are the sweetest hugs known to man. Sometimes the hugs turn into playful tussling and even running at granddaddy full speed until there is a collision and an upward lift by granddaddy, who truly cherishes every embrace.

I am aware that soon enough, they will grow out of this playful stage and will enter the more somber teen years. That is the time in life when the love has not waned at all, but public displays of affection may be harder to come by since some don’t consider it cool to show love through hugs.

It was not unusual when our girls entered their teen years to find that though they loved me with all their hearts, they really preferred not to be seen with me. I remember one evening when I drove one of my daughters to a gathering where she would meet her friends.

“Dad, why don’t you just pull over here and let me out,” she insisted.

“Why would I do that? We haven’t arrived yet. The drop off point is just around the corner.”

“I know, Dad, but if we pull around the corner, all my friends will see you driving me.”

I replied, “Well, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t think that you walked here from the house. We live ten miles from here, and they all know that you’re too young to drive yourself.”

“Dad, please, just let me out here.”

It made no sense to me at the time, but I let her out as requested, and in some strange way, this helped her to keep her dignity in the presence of her friends.

Whether children or grandchildren, one of the greatest blessings of adult life is having time to spend with your family. Often, in order to have time, you have to make time. Moms seem to do better at that than dads. Yet, our children need to spend quality time with their dads and every effort needs to be made, especially in these summer months, to make that happen.

Summer provides so many wonderful options: picnics, camping trips, fishing and hiking, bike riding, summer sports, family vacations, even working in the yard together.

That last one is the one my dad seemed to like the best. How I remember those hot summer days in Montgomery, Alabama when Dad and I would work in the yard together. I wish I could get my yard mowed today for what I was paid back then. I got a full $2.00 for cutting and raking the yard.

Actually, the money was not all that important. What was important was the joy of being near and working with my dad. I did the best I could, because more than anything, I just wanted to hear him say, “Son, you did a very fine job on the yard.” That was all the pay I needed.

Funny how we sometimes forget as we get older how much a word of commendation to a son or daughter can mean and how it is remembered across many years.

My encouragement to parents and grandparents is that you take the time to be close to your children and grandchildren. Time passes so quickly and the moments in life that are remembered and treasured are the moments we spend with those we love. Make the summer of 2009 a summer to be fondly remembered.