The Three Minute Grandparent

The Three Minute Grandparent: Rhonda The Creator said, “Let us make a woman, and let us make her as close to perfection as a human can be.”  The Creator found the softest clay of creamy coloring and began forming the woman.  One of the ministering spirits asked what height she should be, to which the Creator answered, “The height of a needy man on planet earth.”  “I want this woman to perfectly complement the man that I have in mind,” the Creator continued.  The beautiful woman began taking shape and the Creator found the warmest, most divinely scented smells of Heaven and breathed them into the woman.  He took the brightest star and instilled that into the personality; with the very love of God, He created her heart.  He gave her the patience of Job, the beauty of Rachel, and the Mother’s instinct of Hannah.  As Rhonda Colson was brought to earth, she began looking for Ken; upon finding Him, The Creator pronounced the union… Good. Rhonda, on you...

The Three Minute Grandparent: New Grandson A child has been born named Asher.  He is the third of 3 grandchildren.  He is healthy and loved by our oldest Daughter, Son-in-law, and first Grandson.  Birthdays are important as we celebrate the life that began 9 months ago and continues in this world.  The name, Asher means Blessed or Happy One.  This child has amazing parents and a kind, loving brother; he is truly blessed to be in such a caring and loving family.  We welcome him into the world and into our family.  Our prayer is that he would experience the love of Jesus and come to the knowledge of Jesus as Savior at an early age.  Until we can visit in person with little Asher, Skype continues to function on a daily basis.  Granddaddy loves you, Asher.

The Three Minute Grandparent: Tenderness Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven. (The Message Bible, Jude 22-23) As Followers of Jesus, we are to be His representatives on earth, loving people and pointing them to Jesus as the author of our Salvation.  Being “tender with sinners” is asking me to love the sinner, show mercy to someone who is on a destructive path and definitely not pass condemning judgment on the person.  As a believer, I am free to love the sinner and hate the sin.  Jesus loved the woman caught in the sin of adultery but she admonished her to “leave her life of sin.”  You may be asked, “Who are you to say such and such is sin?” Who?  “I am a child of Jesus, and I love you.  I do not need to condemn you but am called to love you.  That’s who I am.”  We live in the age of grace, so let’s give grace to ot...

The Three Minute Grandparent: Granddaughter Our 16 month old Granddaughter spent a week with us.  Her parents also came to supervise the fun that Grandma, Grandpa and Granddaughter had during 8 days of romping around the house, walks outside, visiting Glacier National Park and roaming around Missoula.  We had a blast playing with and getting to know our little girl on a day by day basis. Our little girl lives too many miles away and too many fun times apart from us.  She arrived with our Son and Daughter in Law and proceeded to steal our hearts from the moment we met them at the airport.  We observed her greeting everyone in the airport with “hi…hi…hi,” then stomp her feet if the greeting was not answered.  She walked, no, RAN everywhere her little feet would take her.  She enjoyed the train at Southgate Mall, the Carousel in downtown Missoula, and rode on Daddy’s back all the way up to Hidden lake Lookout in Glacier Park. Grandparents found themselve...

The day began as a single college guy and closed as a college couple.   Sunday dawned and I was nervous.   I had my tuxedo; shirt, pants, tie, yes and even the cufflinks.   Everything fit as I slowly added each piece of the wardrobe and began to look like a groom.   My family met me at the church and other guys in the male part of the wedding party.   My Father as best man tried to encourage me; one young married friend was telling all of the negatives of getting married while another unmarried friend had no idea where this would lead.   The organ began playing and I entered with my best man, led by our pastor friend (who was sick from food poisoning – of which I was blissfully ignorant).   Couple by couple, the ladies were escorted down the isle by the men in the party, then she appeared…the lady of my dreams, Rhonda, escorted by our adopted Father, Thurman Barrow.   My eyes were glued on Rhonda, this lovely apparition all in white with long brow...

“I feel like a rich man,” said one of the characters in the movie Courageous.   Habiere, gazing into the mirror and admiring his new suit, made the comment.   His wife commented, “You are a rich man; you have a strong faith with children that love you and a wife who adores you.”   What more could a man or grandfather want?   So much in life is fleeting or even false, yet to have someone who loves and cares for you is one of life’s treasures.   A strong faith comes from loving and being loved by the God of the universe.   As a husband for 39 years, a father for almost 35 and a grandfather for 2 ½ years, I can say that I am blessed beyond measure.   My faith began as a child in my parent’s home, observing their faith and wanting it, too.   My own relationship with Jesus began at age 12 and continues to grow.   I continue to find that I am a rich man, not in money, but in relationships; learning more about my loving wife each day and lovi...

The Three Minute Grandparent: Authority The power to influence or command thought, opinion or behavior, or a person in command.  In parenting, this would be someone who has the right to make decisions.  Grandparents have used authority to make decisions for their children during growing up years and at times have used designated authority to make decisions for grandchildren.  Decisions?  What type of decisions?  Bedtimes, mealtimes, clothing choice, friends, church and school attendance, free time, and discipline.  Parents make decisions with an ultimate goal in mind; independence and passing that authority on to the child as growth occurs.  Children need to be under authority during the formative years; parents need to display and exert authority over their children with this thought, their authority should work on a descending scale as the child grows.  Each child should begin to exert self governing techniques and make decisions for them...