Opus 2020-270: Whither Privilege, Interlude

This morning I had a brief time span of Grandparent Privilege.  My granddaughter was asleep.  My daughter was trying to get a shower.  My wife was asleep.  I had the boy.  My grandson is about nine months old and quite mobile.  I was able to watch and interact with him without interruptions.  It was a glorious time.

My first response was thanksgiving.   I know it is a month early but I have so much to be thankful for that I start the day after the feast.  When the world goes shopping, I start thanking.

Then I got to thinking about what a blessing the boy had by having me as a grandfather.  I guess I would include the rest of the family because I am not the one who bought all the toys on the floor or arranged the room and I certainly did not carry him in my womb for nine months.  But I watched him on the floor soaking up the privilege, totally unaware of all that went into giving him a head start in life.  

It is not a matter of race.  Any child can reap the benefit of investment by parents and grandparents.  The blessing, i.e. privilege, comes from having such people in your life.  If I found myself on my I-Pad or reading a book while he roamed the room, they would be put aside when he turned his attention toward me.  The electronics get put on boring print mode when the young ones come over.  No cartoons or graphics, just articles getting them used to the idea of reading.  That is an important privilege.

I looked at all the toys in the room and realized it isn’t a matter of money.  I saw nothing that was bought for full price by us.  Yard sales, thrift stores, close out racks and hand me downs are the source of everything not received as a gift.  I can’t let me wife go out unsupervised because when she does she brings back boxes of child friendly materials.  Actually it doesn’t do any good to supervise because she just uses me to haul it all to the car.  Fiscal responsibility is an other privilege available to all.  

Children are meant to be a blessing.

(Psa 127:3-5 KJV) 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.

Of course an important way to make them a blessing is to be a blessing to them.  Pass on the privilege.

homo unius libri