Saturday was a red letter day for yours truly. To begin with, I forced myself to rise early and exercise – a feat for which I am now especially grateful. I then managed to squeeze in a walk before my beloved Georgia Bulldogs played their eleventh game of the season, remaining undefeated as they annihilated the opposing team by a score of 56-7.
Simultaneously, their final opponent of the season, whom they will play next Saturday, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, lost to Notre Dame by a score of 55-0. Hopefully, therefore, my Dawgs will finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1980.
That was when they won a National Championship with Herschel Walker. And while that may not happen this year, at least they will now play Alabama for the SEC Championship in two weeks.
After the game, I found time to complete several projects on my to-do list before the highlight of my day unfolded: our oldest grandson came over to spend the night. Together, we played with everything from Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots to Hot wheels to Dinosaurs. Then we feasted on popcorn – the greasy, salty, buttery coated kind from our original 1970s West Bend Stir Crazy machine!
As we munched, we watched “King Kong vs. Godzilla”. Not the 2021 job, but the original 1963 version! Granted, it was campy from start to finish. But it was perfect for us! We oooed and ahhed as the two behemoths dueled to the finish! Then, early this morning, we dutifully jumped up in order to get him back before church.
Since then, I have spent much of this day reflecting on the events of the previous one. Aa a result, I have concluded that what all happened yesterday does not begin to compare with what all happened last night. To begin with, I can work on a personal to-do list any day of the year. But this is not really what I have in mind.
What I do have in mind is this. While I love the Georgia Bulldogs, I will have to admit that no one associated with them, not a single coach nor a single player nor a single trainer nor a single statistician nor a single administrator nor a single broadcaster even knows who I am!
What is more – I have absolutely no control ore even influence over how they play and whether or not they win a single game. I am a mere spectator. In fact, I am one of millions of spectators who have no involvement or interaction with the team per se. As such, if I am to be honest, all I can do is root from afar.
But such is not the case with my precious grandson! Him, I know personally! Him, I interact with. Him, I influence. Him, I have a great deal to do with how he turns out!
Given this, to which of the two highlights of yesterday’s activities should I truly give true priority?! The answer, I dare say, is obvious!
The Lord has chosen to bless me with not just one, but seven precious grandsons. And my role in their lives is not limited to that of spectator. Rather, my role in their lives includes that of actual interactor. And for this reason, my role in their lives also includes that of influencer, and ultimately, even, that of mentor!
Let’s face it. No matter how much I might root form the peanut gallery, I have zero impact on the outcome of the Georgia Bulldogs season. But chances are that I can and will have a significant impact on how each of my grandsons all turns out. And for this reason, I have committed to redouble my effort not just to be a spectator but an actual participant in their lives!
As the Bible says,
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children…”
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be by the television saying to the Georgia Bulldogs, “You go, boys!” Especially when they score a touchdown or make a critical tackle.
But for the rest of my life, I’ll be by my grandsons saying “You go boys! And here’s a little advice on how to proceed from here!” And I’ll do that whether they score the winning touchdown and spike the ball or fumble the ball and lose the game.
After all, isn’t that what grandfathers are for?!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-9.htm.
Simultaneously, their final opponent of the season, whom they will play next Saturday, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, lost to Notre Dame by a score of 55-0. Hopefully, therefore, my Dawgs will finish the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1980.
That was when they won a National Championship with Herschel Walker. And while that may not happen this year, at least they will now play Alabama for the SEC Championship in two weeks.
After the game, I found time to complete several projects on my to-do list before the highlight of my day unfolded: our oldest grandson came over to spend the night. Together, we played with everything from Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots to Hot wheels to Dinosaurs. Then we feasted on popcorn – the greasy, salty, buttery coated kind from our original 1970s West Bend Stir Crazy machine!
As we munched, we watched “King Kong vs. Godzilla”. Not the 2021 job, but the original 1963 version! Granted, it was campy from start to finish. But it was perfect for us! We oooed and ahhed as the two behemoths dueled to the finish! Then, early this morning, we dutifully jumped up in order to get him back before church.
Since then, I have spent much of this day reflecting on the events of the previous one. Aa a result, I have concluded that what all happened yesterday does not begin to compare with what all happened last night. To begin with, I can work on a personal to-do list any day of the year. But this is not really what I have in mind.
What I do have in mind is this. While I love the Georgia Bulldogs, I will have to admit that no one associated with them, not a single coach nor a single player nor a single trainer nor a single statistician nor a single administrator nor a single broadcaster even knows who I am!
What is more – I have absolutely no control ore even influence over how they play and whether or not they win a single game. I am a mere spectator. In fact, I am one of millions of spectators who have no involvement or interaction with the team per se. As such, if I am to be honest, all I can do is root from afar.
But such is not the case with my precious grandson! Him, I know personally! Him, I interact with. Him, I influence. Him, I have a great deal to do with how he turns out!
Given this, to which of the two highlights of yesterday’s activities should I truly give true priority?! The answer, I dare say, is obvious!
The Lord has chosen to bless me with not just one, but seven precious grandsons. And my role in their lives is not limited to that of spectator. Rather, my role in their lives includes that of actual interactor. And for this reason, my role in their lives also includes that of influencer, and ultimately, even, that of mentor!
Let’s face it. No matter how much I might root form the peanut gallery, I have zero impact on the outcome of the Georgia Bulldogs season. But chances are that I can and will have a significant impact on how each of my grandsons all turns out. And for this reason, I have committed to redouble my effort not just to be a spectator but an actual participant in their lives!
As the Bible says,
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children…”
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be by the television saying to the Georgia Bulldogs, “You go, boys!” Especially when they score a touchdown or make a critical tackle.
But for the rest of my life, I’ll be by my grandsons saying “You go boys! And here’s a little advice on how to proceed from here!” And I’ll do that whether they score the winning touchdown and spike the ball or fumble the ball and lose the game.
After all, isn’t that what grandfathers are for?!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/4-9.htm.