You may be looking at this blog and wondering why is it named The World's Greatest Grandpa, and then think to yourself, "that is silly". Yes it is silly and we are a couple of silly people (although, I like to blame all my silliness on Michael, but realize I have quite a bit of silliness in me as well). This title is from a shirt that marks the beginnings of a friendship that has turned into a life long commitment through marriage.
It started one Monday in a thrift store on our day off from our intense life at CEM. As we were shuffling through random t-shirts Michael came across this particular one. We thought it would be funny to see a young man in his 20's sporting it around. Since the price was right he purchased the t-shirt and it began its journey with Michael. Since that day of Michael pretending he liked thrift stores, we have become more than just a couple of friends out on a casual thrift store shopping spree. We began to date, got engaged and now married, and the t-shirt has journeyed along with us. Often when Michael wears this shirt some people comment who are probably grandparents themselves, and look at Michael and say "You are not a Grandpa" almost expecting that Michael should take that shirt off and give it to them because they are probably more deserving of such a shirt. However, Michael usually smiles and says "Nope, not yet." and we chuckle to ourselves as we continue on our way. Then I think, can someone in their 20's aspire to become the worlds greatest grandpa? Do you suddenly become that or are there experiences in life that gradually earn you such a title? To be worthy of this shirt has become a sort of goal in our life; an end towards which we are striving in the daily choices we make right now. We've always wanted to grow-- to better ourselves and become more righteous, kind, compassionate, loving, joyful, patient, forgiving, and, well, good (more Christ-like). This shirt has become a sort of flag we've raised at the endpoint to embody all that. It's a banner we can look to in the distance, and strive towards. It's a way of gauging our progress.
For the shirt to be true, we certainly need some descendants. But equally, we would need to become the kind of wise, amazing, righteous, loving people that we desire to be. This blog chronicles both of those processes: the stories of our children and family, and our thoughts on how to live well. Now that we are expecting our first child in August we can finally say Michael is on his way. It may be a few years, but Lord willin' some grandchild may look at Michael someday and see him as the World's Greatest Grandpa.
written by Jeanette
