Aftermath or Afterglow....It's All In How You Look At Things!

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Psalm 127: 3

And it seems that when your grandchildren come along, that reward is doubled! I always enjoy getting to spend time with our little granddaughter L. How a little two-year-old can come up with some of the cutest things is beyond me! She loves to come and visit at our house but because we live 20-plus miles away it's not always possible. But one day not long ago we were able to bring her home with us for the afternoon. When her Mama came after her and they were gone, I looked around the living room at the various toys scattered everywhere. I had mixed emotions. I wondered to myself, "Is this the aftermath or the afterglow of having L. visit?"
Just to make sure you're on the same page with me I'll tell you what "Mr. Webster" has to say. He says that aftermath means: a result or consequence, usually an unpleasant one, and that afterglow means: the glow remaining after a light has gone, as in the sky after sunset.

I could have looked at the mess in the living room and thought....aftermath! Unpleasant result! And in fact, so many times when my (now grown) children were small I'm afraid that's exactly what I thought! But one day I came across a verse in the Bible that helped me to look at things differently. Proverbs 14: 4 says "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox." I realized that although sometimes kids can be really, really messy.....they are worth it! I'm so glad that God gave me the privilege of being Mother to three children. I love being a mother and a grandmother!

So, when I looked at the toy strewn living room the other day what I thought was....afterglow! A beautiful afterglow! Here was the glow remaining after the light.....our little L......was gone. You know what I mean! You have someone in your life who lights up the room when they come in! Every Thomas the Train sticker, her Princess placemat (for eating yogurt while watching Dumbo), Mr. Pooh Bear, and each Little Golden Book reminded me of my little L. and of the heritage and the reward we have in our children and grandchildren.

"That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:" Psalm 144: 12

Happy today to be a Mama and a "Gan-Mamma" !

Marilyn