In writing this today, I spent much time in reflection while awaiting the induced delivery of my 5th grandchild. Turns out this baby arrived quickly as a another very healthy boy (Daniel Henry Roe). Daniel is a truly a blessing once again, as he is indeed a miracle baby having been carried by prayer into this world. As I write this my bride Sandy is away, visiting some of our own children in California, so she will not see little Daniel before I, as is typical (it is usually I who has been somewhere working when the arrival happens).
Grandchildren are all precious and I feel very blessed to see them grow and develop. As I stated in a previous post, I have much to be thankful for. I remember as a young father of four healthy children feeling that I was the most blessed of fathers. Soon after I leaned that our third (Daniel’s father Jesse) was suddenly a juvenile diabetic at 4 years of age. It was hard to work through, but I was still very blessed. By the time the fifth child Deondra came along we were scolded at times by insensitive people for having so many. We thank God for every one of them, knowing God loves them each. Subsequently it got much harder to rent housing and we decided to buy.
All of our children are now adults (Jeremy, Dacia, Jesse, Danae, Deondra) and only the youngest is yet unmarried. The oldest is a partner in a growing IT company, all are gainfully employed, most are involved in somehow in evangelical ministry, and I am very proud of each ( I have not told them nearly enough). All five are uniquely gifted by God, and their life partners are awesome additions to our clan.
I trust I have taught them each faithfulness and the joy of serving others. Seems I now learn more from them than they learn from me as they grow in the Lord. There have been times I was not sure that they learned from me what matters most, but God is now using them to model His faithfulness where ever He has given them influence. We often pray for them each. It is a joy to see prayers answered in their lives.
As I reflect on these things I am most grateful for a growing family, and for the miracle of this new birth. Life brings us each new challenges and hardships every day. Through each new day God is faithful and worthy of complete trust. Something to be continuously mindful of.
