Carolee on First Communion day
Here is Sunday’s posting on Monday. I should be caught up by tomorrow eve.
Yesterday I went to my son and his family’s house to attend the 1st Communion of my granddaughter, Carolee. The celebration of reception of Eucharist was nice but one of benefits of the day was that seven of her cousins from her mother’s, my daughter-in-law side, were present. They were ranged in age from 2–15 including my godson, Tristin, who is 4 years old. Just being around 10 young person’s was a inspiriting experience although I could not keep up with some of their play, tackle football and bouncing on a trampoline.
It reminded once again why Jesus who asked us to remember him by sharing his body and blood, bread and win, told us that we must be like a child to enter into the Kingdom of God. Children are full of innocence and are straight forward and honest in what they say and do.
My godson’s mother told me that Tristan, 4, was asking her when he would next see “my grandpa”. At first she wondered who he meant her father or her husband’s father. He kept on insisting he wanted to see “my grandpa” not anyone else’s. Finally she figured out he was talking about me, his godfather. His brothers and sisters often call me “Grandpa Bob” but he knows of our unique bond so I am “my grandpa.” As I was leaving the house to drive back to Milwaukee Tristan walked me to the car. I told him to visit sometime this summer after he was out of school. He said he would tell his mother and do that. His sister, Elizabeth is 2 and my wife’s goddaughter. We have lots of ties to our grandchildren’s cousins. It feels like having 13 grandchildren at times when they are all around.
However, I need to realize that like my two grandson and a few of the older cousins, they will grow up. They will still be wonderful human persons but sadly lose some of that edge of imagination and innocence that young children possess.
Watching my grandchildren and their cousins grow up is great but also there is the heartache of know there are so many young children in our city and around the world that will not get the benefits of growing up in such a loving family environment. This experience renews my spirit as we go into the pilgrimage of Works Mercy over Works of War tomorrow.
Children teach us so much and bring us such great blessings that to be truly human beings, we need to care for the young.
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