Life, like the seasons, change.
No matter what part of the world you live in or are visiting, seasons change. Sometimes it's subtle. Many times it is quite dramatic. But all of the time, it is transitional and moving. Then along come the days where you can plant a stake in it. It's firm. It's unchanging. It's often-times significant.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010, was one of those "stake it and mark it" days. Here I am, enjoying a wonderful business conference with my BioGuard compadres (all 800 plus) from around the US. We're enjoying the beautiful Moon Palace Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Food is great. Drink is great. People are great. Speakers and workshops are "great." The evening's festivities are again, great.
I leave the party, return to my room to check email and messages. A smile and tear cross my face simultaneously. Why? Well now I'm going to vastly diminish the word "great."
As I'm looking at my Facebook page, a message comes through from Diego, a friend and next door neighbor of my daughter and son in law. Just some simple words, "Congrats mr. Parts ur a grand dad!" A couple of thousand miles away from my daughter and her husband, my wife Barbara and sons, a baby boy has been born at about 9:30 pm, Eastern Time. His name is Caleb Michael (a powerful and wonderful name that I'll most likely blog about later). His daddy made it back home just in time from his duties in the US Army in Iraq. Caleb is healthy (over the phone I can hear a healthy set of lungs!). I am a Grandfather. I have been deeply blessed by a merciful and loving God who personally cares for me and my family.
This is what greatness is. The resort; the food and drink; even my fellow conventioneers all pale in contrast to the greatness of a loving God and His act of creation, mercy and love. I am humbled to be able to live at this time, for His purposes.
What does being a Grandfather mean? Don't know yet! It hasn't even been 24 hours.
In the meanwhile, I offer this prayer and blessing to this little life, my grandson Caleb, created in the image of his Father in Heaven:
"May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace."
I'll be home tomorrow.
