Truthfully, I was looking forward to the second round of little ones, grandkids that is. I begin to explain to my children, that "dad" was approaching his "fifties" and would be in his "seventies" by the time their offspring would become adults -- still no grandchildren. I even threatened to have a talk with them, for the purpose of explaining how you get the little fellows -- I thought maybe their mother and I had missed out on something in their 'edjucation'. Well, finally they (grandkids) started arriving. To make a long story short in five years, there were five grandsons and two granddaughters. My mother accused me of praying for the little tikes. She said that I got them started -- coming, that is -- and couldn't get them stopped. Truthfully, I'll take all I can get.

Anyhow, it isn't lonesome around the house when they show up -- especially when they all show up! The wife and I live in a very small apartment, attached to the church building. When they all show, it's wall to wall kids. The whole house becomes a "romper room". Did you know that beds make good trampolines?

Little angels? Well not hardly, they have their times of fighting and scratching -- hair gets pulled and licks are exchanged. One of the hardest lessons for them to learn is to share with each other. Over and over their mom's and dads, tell them, they must share. "Now don't be selfish," they implore the grandkids. Does it always work? Come on now, you know better than that! My little blond headed granddaughter summed it all up one day, when she was chided for not sharing. "I'm just going to be selfish," she proclaimed.

Smart, I reckon. One of the little fellows got too 'ram bunches' and poured a container of powder on the bedroom carpet. Knowing he had done something, he should not have, he came up with a plan. He informed his mother that his little brother had made a mess in the bedroom. This time, he was outsmarted, by his mom - or so she thought - for he had used this ploy before. Proceeding to the bedroom she gazed upon the minor disaster.

Missing the culprit, she gazed through the door of my grandson's bedroom. There before her eyes, the tainted angel (three years old) was kneeling by his bed. "Dear Lord, I thank you for my sins, and please God, don't let mommy spank me." And she didn't. Now there ain't nothing dumb about this kid he knew when to call for help from the man above. He's the religious one of the bunch. He was overheard scolding one of the granddaughters who displeased him, "Jesus doesn't like that a bit."

Hardly a dull moment! What would this ole' world be like if it wasn't graced with our little ones. Somehow their presence melt away the years from a tired heart. They bring a sense of joy and life with them that is beyond value. One tender kiss of my jaw, a hug of my neck, and a "I love you papaw" is worth a million dollars. Matter of fact, I coached all of them to say the word "papaw"

The Psalmist realized the value of children when he said, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." Psa 127:3-5.

In Proverbs Solomon speaks of their value to grandparents. "Children's children are the crown of old men; ...." Prov 17:6.

Jesus was displeased with his apostles who endeavored to keep the children and their mothers from Him. They thought Jesus had more important things to do, than to have an audience with the children. The Lord revealed His assessment of their worth in Mat 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

He addressed Himself to their importance to the Father, when He proclaimed that God had assigned angels to their care. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." Mat 18:10. One of my favorite pictures is of the two children crossing the bridge, while the guardian angel hovers over them. Surely no one can doubt that children are a gift from God's treasure house.

Children have always played an important role in God's will. Little Samuel waited upon priest Eli. It was a small lad's lunch of five loaves and two fishes that Jesus used to feed the great crowd of over five thousand. A small child is as close as we can get to what man must have been in the innocence which God first created Him.

God help us as parents and grandparents they we never do anything that would steer them from the path that leads unto Him made them. As parents we must serve the Lord and set the example that they can imitate and become the adults that God would have them to be.

As little fellows they trod on our feet, but the day soon approaches that they may trod upon our heart. Let us not take our obligations lightly toward those who come from our own bodies, our children.

One poet speaks well to our obligation:

Take a moment to listen today To what your children are trying to say; Listen today, whatever you do Or they won't be there to listen to you. Listen to their problems, listen for their needs, Praise their smallest triumphs, praise their smallest deeds; Tolerate their chatter, amplify their laughter, Find out what's the matter, find out what they're after. But tell them that you love them, every single night And though you scold them, be sure you hold them; Tell them "Everything's all right; Tomorrow's looking bright!" Take a moment to listen today To what your children are trying to say; Listen today, whatever you do And they will come back to listen to you.

Happy is the parent who has loved and is loved of their children. Truly they have been blessed by their creator.