On Becoming Grandparents

I've been reading Philip Yancey lately and have been re-inspired as a writer. He speaks of "leaping across the gap and entering the consciousness of another human being." I know for a fact that some of my readers have already become grandparents, I've seen pictures. Sunday at church I was the one showing pictures, beaming proudly because my little girl has just given birth to a little girl.

As I write this, Susi is away in Cleveland, witnessing the "cycle of life." Feed the baby, change the baby, put the baby to bed. Repeat. From my distant point of view, I too am aware of the cycle. 36 years ago, we met, we married, and before long began having kids. For the past ten years, we've been watching our kids meet and marry, and now they too are having kids. Life repeats.

I thought about how this birth affects our parents. My announcement to Poppa Chuck (Susi's dad) was: "You've been a good grandpa. Now you're going to be a great grandpa!" I pictured my mom & dad receiving the news. Also in their late 80's they're now seeing their "children's children's children!"

Everyone told me how great it was for them becoming grandparents, and how much I was going to enjoy it. I leave in two days to join my wife, daughter and granddaughter in Ohio. I'm looking forward to entering the circle of joy in that household. In the meantime I have pictures, video and even "facetime" as my window to view things.

At a distance from the bustle of activity in the Harmon household, I try to reflect on the cycle of life as it rolls along. Though it seems like everything, and everyone, is constantly changing, there are routines and patterns that repeat. As we take time to pick strawberries, pet the dog, mow the lawn, write a blog, we can find a comfortable rhythm among the things we must do and the things we are trying to get done.

I remember well the birth of our firstborn. I described the contrast between falling in love with Susi and the love I felt for Amanda. The first was a process, the second came all at once. As soon as our daughter appeared on the scene, she had my heart.

With grand-kids I think it's like that. I visited Katie and Cole in May, so I got to see the "bump." That started to make it seem more real: "I'm gonna be a grandpa!" But in a few days I will actually hold this precious little bundle close to my heart. We are truly blessed to receive this child into our extended family.

Our cycle of life continues while my wife is away being a grandmother:

• I discovered the washing machine has a spin cycle, one for permanent press, and a "normal cycle" whatever that means!

• As I take time to look at pictures of the cute grandbaby, the cycle of mail, receipts and other paperwork continues, only the counters do not magically de-clutter themselves like they do when Susi is here!

• While Katie is starting the new mom cycle: "feed, change, sleep, repeat." I'm on the old dad cycle: "eat, work, play, sleep, repeat."

I told our pastor, who has four grand-kids, that Susi and I have now "joined the club" - the grandparents club. He is one of those who is thrilled about grandparenting and convinced that it will enrich my wife as well. But I'm really in a lot of clubs, none of which are very exclusive. Each time I write I think about all the experiences I have in common with my readers, things they can relate to, because I love to communicate and connect.

As new experiences enter your life and you continue to do the work of maintaining life itself, consider how these elements of your life fit together. Take time to collect your thoughts and feelings and reach out to express yourself to those you love. You too may be able to "leap across the gap and enter the consciousness of another human being," even if you're not a writer.