Today my family will celebrate Thieodore’s 9th birthday. He is the youngest child in our home, and there is something especially precious about watching him grow. Thieodore has a sense of humor that brings laughter into our lives, and the way he can make me feel valued is a gift I have come to appreciate more as I get older. I love his curiosity, his desire to explore and understand the world around him, and his ability to create is inspiring. There is something special about watching a young mind at work, seeing the ideas he comes up with and the things he can imagine and bring to life.
Many times, in the middle of an ordinary day, Thieodore reminds me that joy does not have to come from anything extraordinary. Sometimes it comes from a funny comment, an unexpected question, a moment of laughter, or simply watching a child be himself. At nine years old, he still has so much to discover, and I have the privilege of watching him grow into the person God created him to be day in and day out.
But the truth is, while I may be one of the people who helps shape his life, he is also shaping mine. Thieodore has reminded me that there is still so much joy to be found in the little things, so much love to give, and so much life to experience if I am willing to slow down long enough to appreciate it. Being his Pa has given me another opportunity to see the world through younger eyes, to laugh more freely, to love more deeply, and to recognize how quickly the moments we sometimes take for granted become memories we would give anything to experience again.
I want Thieodore to grow up knowing that he is loved, valued, and cherished, not simply because it is his birthday, but because his life is a gift to our family.
Celebrating the children is not something we do only once a year; it is something we try to do regularly. Growing up, the milestones we acknowledged were birthdays, high school graduations, and weddings. But with my children, and now my grandchildren, we try to celebrate the little milestones as well. There are times when we celebrate half-birthdays simply to remind one another that we are valued and cherished. The days may go slowly, but the years really do go by fast.
I understand that my grandchildren will have their memories of me longer than I will have of them, because I am most likely as close to the day of my death as they are to the day of their birth. That is a sobering thought, but it is also a reminder of how precious our time together really is for me. I have experienced moments that I did not fully appreciate while they were happening with my own children because I was too busy thinking about what needed to happen next. I was physically present, but my mind was already somewhere else, focused on the next responsibility, the next problem, or the next thing on my list. At this time of my life I am actively working on stopping that. I want to live in the moment because it is a gift, that is why it is called the present.
I do not want to spend so much time preparing for tomorrow that I miss the blessings God has placed in front of me today. I want to be present when Thieodore tells a joke, asks a question, shares an idea, or simply wants to spend time with me walking to take out the trash. I want to listen without rushing, laugh without distraction, and recognize that these ordinary moments are becoming the memories my family and I will carry for the rest of our lives. I cannot slow down the passing of time, but I can be more intentional about how I spend it.
As I celebrate Thieodore’s ninth birthday, I find myself thinking not only about the man I hope he will become, but also about the man I am still trying to become. I want to encourage his curiosity, celebrate his creativity, and make sure he knows that his Pa loves him the best I can. I hope that when he looks back on his childhood, he will remember the laughter, the celebrations, the conversations, and the little moments when he knew he mattered to me more than my distractions.
But I also hope he understands one day that the blessing has never been mine to give alone. In so many ways, he has been a blessing to me.
When my children were born I was not a godly man and I made many mistakes. Since becoming a Christian I have desired to be better, to do better. There are certain verses that have helped shape me into the man of God and influence how I live my life. It is written in Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
When I think about Thieodore, I am reminded that children are not simply entrusted to us to raise and guide; they are gifts from God who enrich our lives in ways we may not fully understand until we take the time to reflect. I am grateful that God has allowed me to be his Pa, to witness his growth, to share in his laughter, and to experience a love that continues to teach me what matters most in this life.
Thieodore has made me more mindful of the time I have, more aware of the importance of being present, and more determined not to allow the distractions of life to rob me of the people God has placed in it. He has reminded me that becoming a better man is not something I accomplished years ago and can now check off a list. It is something I must continue to pursue every day.
I want to be more patient, more compassionate, more understanding, more willing to listen, and more generous with my love. I want to be the kind of man whose grandchildren see something of Jesus in the way he lives, the way he treats people, and the way he loves them. I know I have not always been that man. I have made mistakes, missed opportunities, and sometimes failed to give the people I love the attention they deserved and sometimes so desperately needed. But because of God’s grace, and because of the love I have received from my family, I am not the same man I once was.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts of being a father and grandfather. We think we are here to teach our children and grandchildren about life, but along the way, they teach us things about ourselves that we might never have learned otherwise. They remind us of our shortcomings, challenge us to grow, and give us reasons to keep becoming better.
Thieodore may be only nine years old, but his life has already contributed to the person I am becoming. Through his laughter, his curiosity, his imagination, and the simple joy of being around him, he has helped me remember that life is not only about the things we accomplish, the problems we solve, or the responsibilities we carry. It is also about the laughter we share, the questions we entertain, the things we create together, and the love we give freely without expectation.
I am a better man because I have had the privilege of loving him, and I want to spend whatever time God gives me showing him that love in ways he can see, feel, and remember forever.
Thieodore, in his own special way, has helped teach me these lessons. I cannot promise him that I will always get everything right, but I can promise to keep trying, to keep loving him, and to keep allowing God to work on my heart and mind.
If my life can leave Thieodore and the rest of my family with anything meaningful, I hope it is not a story about a man who never made mistakes, but about a man who learned from them, sought God’s forgiveness, and kept trying to become better. I hope they remember that I loved them deeply, prayed for them faithfully, and did my best to show them the love of Jesus through my actions, not just my words.
As I go throughout my days and see how my life affects those around me I often reflect upon Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
This verse reminds me that God is working through me. Even as I grow older, I still have lessons to learn, love to give, forgiveness to seek, and opportunities to become more like Jesus. My desire is not to leave my family with the impression that I lived a perfect life, but that I continued to trust God to shape my heart and help me become a better man.
I am thankful for the years God has given me, for the family He has blessed me with, and for the opportunity to continue growing even now. I cannot change the years that have passed, but I can make the years ahead count. I can be more present, more patient, more loving, and more grateful. I can celebrate Thieodore’s laughter, encourage his curiosity, appreciate his creativity, and cherish the privilege of watching him grow.
And if there is one thing I hope my family will remember when my time here is finished, it is that I never stopped trying to become a more godly man. Not because I wanted to leave behind the appearance of a perfect life, but because I wanted the people I loved to experience a man who was willing to let God change him into the image of the One he served.
Thieodore’s ninth birthday is a celebration of his life, but it is also a reminder to me that my own life is still being shaped by the people I love and the God I serve. I cannot go back and change every mistake I have made, every moment I failed to appreciate, or every time I could have loved someone better. But while I still have time, I can choose what kind of man I will be today. I can choose to love more, forgive more, listen more, and live with greater purpose.
I want to love my family well, honor God with my life, and leave behind memories that remind those I love that they mattered. Thieodore has already made a difference in my life, and I pray that as he grows older, he will understand just how much he has meant to me. He has made my life richer, my heart fuller, and me a more godly man.
And perhaps one of the greatest blessings of all is that, while I have been watching him grow up, God has continued to grow me up, too.
My closing thought is this: I once believed that being a father and grandfather meant helping the younger generations learn how to live. What I understand now is that they have also been teaching me how to live for the glory of God. They have taught me that love requires patience, that relationships are worth protecting, that laughter is a gift, and that some of life’s greatest blessings are found in ordinary moments we might otherwise overlook.
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My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog
Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*
To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastor…@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.
