Call me Grandpa

Recently we were beaming over some of the best photographs we have ever seen. Granted they were a bit grainy. And they were in black in white. We didn't care at all because they are the ultrasound shots of our first grandchild!

Two months ago our son Isaac phoned to say that he and his wife Rebekah are expecting a child next January. This has been an excruciating eight weeks or so because the grandparents and one great-grandparent were the only ones to know for a while, then siblings and a few others. It has driven me crazy to be sworn to secrecy until they got through the crucial first trimester. Several times I almost let the news slip with other family members, friends, co-workers. And did I ever want to "spill the beans."

We are both thrilled and in fact I think I am more excited than when we realized Ruth was pregnant with Ike thirty years ago. Don't get me wrong, he was planned and I was a happy guy. But what did I know about being a dad, and what if I was lousy at it? Didn't this make me grown up and responsible in a way that was a bigger challenge than anything I had done before?

As a prospective grandfather I can trust that these two will be terrific parents and I can savour a very different role. As a minister I have celebrated with so many happy grandparents who turn into delightfully sappy, bragging fools when their grandkids come along. Now it's my turn!

We are now open for business for congrats and comments.