Steve and I are in the stage of life where our children have left home and are starting families of their own. We became grandparents nine months ago. Most of our friends are grandparents or about to become grandparents. It is a wonderful time of life.
Yesterday, I attended a baby shower in celebration of the impending arrival of a friend’s first grandchild. The mother-to-be, Jessica, is a former student of mine. She and her husband glow when they speak of their son, growing in his mother’s protective womb. Although the child won’t be born for a couple more months, he is very much loved–not only by his parents, but also by his grandparents and great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. From the first announcement that a child was expected, all who know this family have rejoiced with them and celebrate that a new life has been conceived.
We experienced this same joy and anticipation during the months leading up to Daniel’s birth. We loved our yet-to-be-born grandchild from the first moment we learned that wonderful news that our beautiful daughter-in-law was pregnant. We waited in eager anticipation for the arrival of the “expected” baby. Every moment we spend with him is one of joy and pleasure. We are thankful for this wonderful gift God has given our family.
We spent this afternoon with our grandson and some extended family members. One of them gave Daniel a beach ball to play with. Daniel squealed with delight as he held the ball. When it rolled from him, his father would pick up the ball and bounce it off Daniel’s head, eliciting howls of laughter. We delighted in watching the pleasure Daniel derived from the ball. His pleasure was contagious and brought smiles and laughter to everyone.
As parents and grandparents delight in their offspring, so God delights in and loves his children. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!” (1 John 3:1) As much as we love our children and our grandson, our love does not compare in magnitude to the love God has for us.
God loved us so much that he sent his son to take the punishment for our sins, allowing us access to God and a future with him in Heaven. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God offers his salvation to all. God created each person that has every lived to be his child and to enter into fellowship with him. He desires each of us to accept Christ’s free gift of salvation and to become a child of God.
If you would like to experience the delight that comes from being a child of God, you only have to admit that you are a sinner in need of salvation, believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins, and confess Jesus as Lord of your life. It’s the best decision you will ever make. Won’t you become a child of God today?
Susan's Reflections 
A beautiful post for the week of Easter. Thank you for sharing.