Part of the solution

A few days ago my oldest grandchild turned 11. We couldn’t be there to celebrate with him, but he had a great time with his dad, brothers and some friends. Like the other 10, he is shaping up to be a great kid. It got me thinking about and celebrating things of which he has no idea.

Years ago his grandmother and I were discussing whether we wanted to have children (having grandchildren tends to start with having children). To be clear, Donna wasn’t debating whether she wanted children—that debate never happened! She was trying to explain to me why kids would be a good idea. I on the other hand was looking at all that was wrong in the world—all that was wrong with us—and wondered why would I want to add to—or bring kids into—that mess.

Then Donna asked me why I assumed they would add to the mess. “Why couldn’t they be part of the solution instead of the problem?”

I hadn’t thought of that, and obviously I came around to her way of thinking. The years have shown that our three kids are part of the solution. They have each accepted the Lordship of Jesus in their own lives. They have each chosen mates who also follow him. They have each labored—in different ways—to serve the Lord by serving others. They have each had an impact on many other people and consequently on the children of those people as well. And they each have taught their children that their faith is real and is to be lived out in real life.  We celebrate that!

And the grandchildren are on the right track to follow them.

I think of these things always, but I think of them more this year because I saw my young grandson turn 11. I was 11 when I started drinking. Children make choices too. I did—and they were bad choices. Choices that followed me and nearly killed me. Choices I have had to deal with the rest of my life. But those choices don’t happen in a vacuum. They are set up by how we raise those kids. They are pointed in one direction or another by their parents. And if pointed in the right direction, they can be part of the solution for generations to come.

In the end, the reason our kids–are part of the solution is that we–Donna and I–made the decision to make Jesus our Lord.  To be sure, they could have made the choices they have made even if we had not–but we were able to make that choice an easier one for them–as they are now doing for their kids.  We, our kids, our grandkids, get to be part of the solution instead of the problem.  God has given us that choice–that gift!   A gift that only happens when we choose him first.