Heaven - Up Close and Child Like
As I looked at the excitement across the table from me I grinned. These guys are insane and I love it. Nothing but pure joy is in front of me. Nothing but action and reaction, giggle and goggle, pure boy stuff. How could I ever be so blessed? When I began dating the beautiful girl that I met 46 years ago – little would I ever think then – that I would be this blessed. Now the two of us are sitting with four grandsons having a ball.
Okay, okay…they are not perfect. They are boys. They are my grandsons – which will definitely make them a little less than perfect. But they are fun – so much fun to be with.
We are sitting in Pizza Hut. There is an ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet that will more than fill up these eating machines. The food was great and we enjoyed it all.
The boys sitting and talking with grandpa are crazy.
Actually these four are just like their mother(and father). Over the years as we watched their mother grow into a beautiful young lady – she was insane too. She was the life of the party and unpredictable with what she would think or say. When her mother would say, “Anda…! I want you to tell me first before you say it.” She would giggle and then it would just pop out…whatever she was about to say.
In Pizza Hut, fortunately at the next table, a group of older teens were having so much fun that our ‘younger all boy group’ was very quiet in comparison. The older teen group were tossing ice cubes at each other and laughing hysterically.
When I looked around there were not a lot of ‘oldies’ like me. They were all next door eating at Swiss Chalet with the other oldies…or across the street at Red Lobster.
I was reflecting on my blessings this morning, five grandsons and a granddaughter. They are so much fun. I love being with them. They teach me so much.
Being a pastor – I know lots about Bible stuff. That is my main work – Bible stuff. One of the Bible stuff ideas came slipping back into my thoughts at Pizza Hut…
Matthew records Jesus’ words…
Matthew 18: 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“Lord… Does that apply to grandsons that do really funny things?”
At that moment Christopher Murray Rourke grinned at me from ear to ear with two crayons sticking from his nose. Thomas, one of his older brothers, would not be out done, and two long, white straws were inserted into his nostrils two… and he said, “Look grandpa, I am a walrus.” To which I responded, “The walrus tusks come out their mouths!” He then said, 
“Okay…”, pulled them out of his nose and cleaned 
them off, and stuff them in his upper lip.
Christopher, knowing that Thomas couldn’t do the next trick, stuck his crayons in his ears. Too funny!
By now Jonathan and Michael, the other two, were laughing heartily and looking for more straws to use in their own heads. Grandma carefully reassured them, “That’s okay…its enough…the waitress needs those straws for the next table. Sit down. That’s okay.”
Sheesh, grandmas are just so much fun. She was laughing too as we savored the moment together.
Down at the end of the table was Great Grandma Lincoln, 87 years young. She laughed along with them as she pulled the string of cheese from her own pizza. At one point she shook as she laughed with these insane great grandsons. This was way too much fun for older people – but she loved it.
I doubt their Great Grandmother will fit into “Happy Acres Rest Home”. In fact I doubt she will ever make it there. She will still be in Pizza Hut with her kids.
So where do I go with this one?
It is March School Break 2008. The four grandsons are with us for the week. First their mom and dad went to see relatives in New Jersey for the weekend. Next their mom and dad have to go back to work. So they are ours for a few days. Oh I am blessed.
Their mom called long distance from a New Jersey Airport. Her question for me was, “Dad, were they good?” She knew we had all been to church in the morning and that we had gone out for lunch. My reply was, “Anda, they are always ‘good’ when they are with grandpa. Its okay – we are having lots of fun. Enjoy yourself. I will send some photos for you by email right away at the airport computer.” Anda responded, “That is what I am worried about Dad!”
So in a few moments – I clicked the “Send” button and she received her reassurance. Photos are below….
My prayer today…
“Lord, help me to keep young – forever. I would really like to come into your “heaven” with you. I am trying hard to learn from my grandsons to stay young – and like a little child – just like Jesus said for me to do. I don’t want to be old and miserable. There are enough people taking up that task all around me…you have enough of them already. Help me to have fun and learn from my grandkids.
Lord I have to run to get their breakfast started. One is standing behind me now asking if he can have a bowl of cereal. Gotta run. Catch you soon.”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Okay, okay…they are not perfect. They are boys. They are my grandsons – which will definitely make them a little less than perfect. But they are fun – so much fun to be with.
We are sitting in Pizza Hut. There is an ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet that will more than fill up these eating machines. The food was great and we enjoyed it all.
The boys sitting and talking with grandpa are crazy.
Actually these four are just like their mother(and father). Over the years as we watched their mother grow into a beautiful young lady – she was insane too. She was the life of the party and unpredictable with what she would think or say. When her mother would say, “Anda…! I want you to tell me first before you say it.” She would giggle and then it would just pop out…whatever she was about to say.
In Pizza Hut, fortunately at the next table, a group of older teens were having so much fun that our ‘younger all boy group’ was very quiet in comparison. The older teen group were tossing ice cubes at each other and laughing hysterically.
When I looked around there were not a lot of ‘oldies’ like me. They were all next door eating at Swiss Chalet with the other oldies…or across the street at Red Lobster.
I was reflecting on my blessings this morning, five grandsons and a granddaughter. They are so much fun. I love being with them. They teach me so much.
Being a pastor – I know lots about Bible stuff. That is my main work – Bible stuff. One of the Bible stuff ideas came slipping back into my thoughts at Pizza Hut…
Matthew records Jesus’ words…
Matthew 18: 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
“Lord… Does that apply to grandsons that do really funny things?”
At that moment Christopher Murray Rourke grinned at me from ear to ear with two crayons sticking from his nose. Thomas, one of his older brothers, would not be out done, and two long, white straws were inserted into his nostrils two… and he said, “Look grandpa, I am a walrus.” To which I responded, “The walrus tusks come out their mouths!” He then said, 
“Okay…”, pulled them out of his nose and cleaned 
them off, and stuff them in his upper lip.
Christopher, knowing that Thomas couldn’t do the next trick, stuck his crayons in his ears. Too funny!By now Jonathan and Michael, the other two, were laughing heartily and looking for more straws to use in their own heads. Grandma carefully reassured them, “That’s okay…its enough…the waitress needs those straws for the next table. Sit down. That’s okay.”
Sheesh, grandmas are just so much fun. She was laughing too as we savored the moment together.
Down at the end of the table was Great Grandma Lincoln, 87 years young. She laughed along with them as she pulled the string of cheese from her own pizza. At one point she shook as she laughed with these insane great grandsons. This was way too much fun for older people – but she loved it.
I doubt their Great Grandmother will fit into “Happy Acres Rest Home”. In fact I doubt she will ever make it there. She will still be in Pizza Hut with her kids.
So where do I go with this one?
It is March School Break 2008. The four grandsons are with us for the week. First their mom and dad went to see relatives in New Jersey for the weekend. Next their mom and dad have to go back to work. So they are ours for a few days. Oh I am blessed.
Their mom called long distance from a New Jersey Airport. Her question for me was, “Dad, were they good?” She knew we had all been to church in the morning and that we had gone out for lunch. My reply was, “Anda, they are always ‘good’ when they are with grandpa. Its okay – we are having lots of fun. Enjoy yourself. I will send some photos for you by email right away at the airport computer.” Anda responded, “That is what I am worried about Dad!”
So in a few moments – I clicked the “Send” button and she received her reassurance. Photos are below….
My prayer today…
“Lord, help me to keep young – forever. I would really like to come into your “heaven” with you. I am trying hard to learn from my grandsons to stay young – and like a little child – just like Jesus said for me to do. I don’t want to be old and miserable. There are enough people taking up that task all around me…you have enough of them already. Help me to have fun and learn from my grandkids.
Lord I have to run to get their breakfast started. One is standing behind me now asking if he can have a bowl of cereal. Gotta run. Catch you soon.”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Monday, March 10, 2008
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