By David Wright
On Sunday morning guests of all ages filled the pews at Meigs Avenue. It was a pleasure to welcome great-grandparents, grandparents, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. And everyone who stayed for lunch enjoyed a delicious feast. I am thankful for every loving deed that made our Grandparents' Day such a success.
While the subject of grandparents is still fresh on our minds, let me add one more word of encouragement. Many Christians treat younger people like grandchildren even if there is no biological connection. When my children were babies, Raymond and Phyllis Reel (of Pikeville, Tennessee) “adopted” them. Hannah and Josh have come to think of the Reels as a third set of grandparents. Their friendship has been a true blessing to our family.
I have observed the same sort of thing at Meigs Avenue. Marie Dimmitt is “Grandma” to Emily Hawkins. Marian Stephens treats our college students as if they were her grandchildren, encouraging them with notes and gifts. Juanita Miller often brings her young neighbors to worship so that these delightful girls may come to know Jesus.
This kindness is commendable, and biblical. When Elkanah and Hannah were unable to have a child together, she made a vow to God: “O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head” (1 Sam. 1:11). Samuel, the answer to Hannah's prayer, was a Nazirite from birth. After weaning the little fellow, Hannah carried him to Shiloh and presented him to Eli, the elderly high priest of Israel. Eli then trained up the boy as if Samuel were his own son or, to be more precise, his own grandson.
