On Tuesday this week, I picked up our nearly 13 year old granddaughter, Rachael, and we headed out to Florida’s largest State Park called Myakka. It’s about twenty minutes away. The Rangers have done a remarkably effective job of keeping the Park much like Florida was when it was first settled.

We saw some huge alligators, hawks, wild pigs, roseate spoonbill birds, squirrels, turkey vultures, Sand Hill Cranes, AND Rachael’s first wild turkey. It’s always exciting to go to the Park and explore the trails and back roads.

I’d never been to the man-made dam that creates Myakka Lake. Rachael thought we should go, so we downloaded Sparky (my electric wheelchair) and headed down the trail. When we arrived, there were some large gators and beautiful pink birds. There were also a lot of people. Our tourist season isn’t quite over AND school is out this week for Spring Break.

As Rachael took my digital camera and walked across the dam, I noticed an older man and a young girl arrive on their bicycles. As the man’s granddaughter went to explore, I struck up a conversation with him. I commented about how good it was to see a grandfather spending time with his granddaughter.

One would expect that the reply from him would have to do with how good he felt about it, too. Well, as he began speaking, I thought that’s where he was going. He said that he really enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. I was nodding and grinning in complete agreement.

THEN, he added that in order to retire early and have plenty of money, he’d totally neglected his own children. I looked deeply into his face. Did I detect a twinge of pain at the truth of his own statement? It’s not my place to judge, but I believe I saw a shadow of sadness steal across his face

The next thing I knew, he and his granddaughter were pedaling off down the trail toward the parking lot. I wanted to speak with him further. I wanted to ask him if he realized that even though he’d pursued financial independence instead of a close relationship with his children, he could still make amends and restore a relationship with his grown kids. Perhaps he would have told me that he’d already done that to the best of his ability. I’ll never know, but I hope for the best. It appears that he’s doing the right thing now, for sure!

I’ve seen a bumper sticker that says, “If I’d Known Grandparenting Was This Good, I Would Have Skipped Parenting”. I used to smile when I saw that sticker. I took it to mean that the person upon whose bumper it was stuck, enjoyed watching his children’s taillights heading for their home after picking up the grandkids from a visit. I don’t have quite the same reaction to that bumper sticker now.

When our kids were little, we had to deal with all the needs of our kids (or not). The taillights were parked in our own driveway. The camping trips, the attendance at school concerts, plays, etc. was for us to do as a family. There was nobody on whom we could dump the responsibility. I don’t recall that we ever wanted to.

However, it’s with a great deal of satisfaction, that I see that Saturday’s are devoted to family activities in Rachael’s Dad and Mom’s’s home. Nearly every Saturday, they (Tim, Debbie, Ben, Rachael, and Steve) look for garage sales, go to consignment shops – all in an effort to find low cost items for missionary friends. Hopefully, when their three children have children of their own (if they choose to have a family), they’ll do an even better job of making time together an important priority in their lives, not pursuing wealth alone.

We have another granddaughter, Milena, born on my birthday last year, who is also blessed to have parents who consider time with her a privilege, not a burden or duty. I hear on the phone about trips to a butterfly arboretum way out in Boulder, CO. Already, Mark has a backpack frame that makes “going along” on a mountain hike a comfortable experience for both. Yep, she’s one fortunate grandchild, too. She has parents (Mark and Beth) who aren’t waiting for her to grow up and give them a grandchild with whom they can finally spend time.

Life is definitely tougher in this regard for single parents. A lady shared with me just today about how much she longed to be home baking cookies for her two children, but had to work because she was the only source of income for her family. She left me with this statement: “Blessed are children who have parents who invest in them.” Amen!

Hey, we all have to do the best job we can under the varied circumstances of our lives. Sharing with you this week is intended to spur us all to pursue keeping our children (and grandchildren) as our top priority under the Lord!

Please share your observations and stories with me. As usual, use the “Leave a Reply” box below!

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