Heroes

Excuse me while I boast about another of my amazing grandchildren! My daughter told me yesterday her husband had received a call at work about their son, Reid, from his boss at his lifeguard job. “Your son is incredible,” the pool manager said. “He saved a boy's life today!” The sixteen-year-old has been working there since he took classes and was certified as a lifeguard earlier this spring.

“Really?” I exclaimed. “Tell me about it!” I found out that a group of youths were gathered around the high-diving board, all urging each other to dive off. Finally, a boy took the plunge. Cries of "He doesn't know how to swim!" filled the air, and Reid could see the 14-year-old splashing frantically in the water. The manager told how Reid had cannonballed into the water from his perch on the lifeguard stand, and as per his training, carried the flotation device to offer the victim. The boy struggled against Reid, so he had to be put on the tube. As Reid towed him in, the boy sputtered that he guess he should've learned how to swim before he jumped!

“We’re so proud of Reid!” the lady went on. “That boy would have drowned!” I haven’t congratulated my grandson yet, but I’m sure he would grin his shy grin, shrug it off and act as if it were all in a day’s work (despite his 13-year-old sister's report that his head has grown a little). His father worked for years as a protector of society in police work, and his mother has helped save countless lives in her nursing career, so he comes from a family tradition of bravery and service. No doubt he is experiencing something of the gratitude and gratification they must have felt that comes with helping others.

Our grandson, Kyle, 14, is making us grateful, too. He is spending his summer going on short trips ministering in youth camps, vacation Bible schools and special meetings with a team from his church. He plays the guitar, participates in skits, and helps in other ways. A conflict of schedules prevented his coming to see us with his parents, Trevor and Jennifer, just last week; his youth minister was depending on him, so Kyle didn’t let him down. (Thankfully, I had gotten a glimpse of him last month when we spent the night with them!)

There isn’t space to write of all our eighteen grandchildren, each wonderful gifts from God who regularly make us proud, as did (and do) their parents before them. Children are a heritage of the Lord, the Bible says. And Psalm 128:6 promises that (to everyone that fears the Lord and walks in His ways, v.1) “thou shalt see thy children’s children.” A blessing, indeed!