“The years teach much
which the days
never knew.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I must admit that, eleven years ago today, I did not understand how becoming a grandparent would change my life for the better. My eldest son, Tom, and his wife, Hillaray, gave birth to their first child, Liam, on September 8, 2014. There was certainly a feeling of celebration that day, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude, but I was completely unaware of how having a grandchild would be such an enjoyable and transformative experience for me.

Not long after Liam was born, I was listening to music in my classroom after school one day. A song came on by Jamaican artist Pato Banton called Life is a Miracle. I love the song, so I was thoroughly enjoying listening to it when it struck me — Life Is A Miracle. Liam is an acronym! 

When Tom and Hillaray returned to their jobs, Kathy was eager to help out with the childcare responsibilities during the week. Now, eleven years later, she has provided this service, this ministry, for all five of our grandkids. It has been an experience for which Kathy is incredibly grateful… and understandably tired!

Since my retirement, I’ve helped with childcare responsibilities to some degree, but to be honest, that’s not how I wanted to spend my retirement years. Knowing Kathy was more than capable of taking good care of the children, and knowing how fulfilling it is for her to do so, my role was simply to step in when needed.

Each grandchild is an individual human being with unique needs, interests, and wants. I am grateful for the somewhat limited role I’ve played in being a part of their lives. 

Liam is a gentle soul. He is kind, thoughtful, and incredibly altruistic for a child his age. Like most kids, he has a variety of interests which include Pokémon and jiu jitsu. Recently, however, Liam has shown a focused interest on the game of baseball. He began playing in a recreational league last year. This year, Liam is playing on a “travel team,” meaning that his team will be involved in tournaments around the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Last week, I had the opportunity to see Liam in his first tournament game in Sunnyvale. Players on the opposing team were a year older than Liam and his teammates. It was a great experience for Liam. His team didn’t win the game, but what they gained in game experience is far greater than a weekend of practices at their local field. Liam had a good defensive game, making plays that came his way. He also had a solid base hit to left field against the older pitcher. He was clearly enjoying himself.

Liam and his sister, Emily, along with their cousins Penelope, Scarlett, and Henry, have added so much to my life. Watching them grow has been a magical experience. Like flowers in a garden that need attention and water for nourishment, kids need the love and attention of their grandparents to help them live their lives to the fullest. And isn’t that how we are all called to live our lives?