An Open Letter to my Grandchildren

So You Have a Baby

What does it mean; this little human life? You’ve created a living person who may live 80 or 90 years or longer, walk, talk, make decisions, maybe make significant and lasting contributions to civilization and mankind, maybe be a career criminal. You will see this little one’s personality emerge much earlier than you expect. This little person may have many children and grandchildren and pass your genes on for years. Someone said that our children are our messages to the future. They will tell others who will never know us who we were.

So you have a baby, congratulations, you have assumed serious responsibilities that will last for the rest of your life. When you are in your 80’s and this child is in its 60’s, you will still feel the same responsibilities you feel today. For sure you are responsible for food, clothing and shelter, the basic needs; also for training, education and rearing into adulthood. You need to teach good manners, social skills and responsibilities. The responsibilities you have assumed are great, no doubt, but they pale when compared to the happy times and joys you will experience. When that little one first recognizes you or your voice and smiles, your heart will melt and run out your eyes.

I know it’s awesome to try and think of this little one living 80 or 90 years or longer. But it’s even more awesome, and almost overwhelming, when you remember that you have created a living soul that will live for ever, and ever, and ever. That 80 or 90 years is just a wisp of time compared to forever. As you train this child to live their short while on earth, don’t neglect to prepare and teach them to make their decision about eternity. The world will teach them more than they need to know about sin, so it falls to you to expose them to the gospel. Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”