Two years ago we joined the ranks of Grandparentdom. We were excited and filled with anticipation. Deb was in the room with our daughter, Megan as she prepared to give birth. I had been privileged to witness the birth of both our children but now it was my turn to play the role of the guy pacing in the waiting room. I fulfilled that role well. Knowing fully that our daughter was in God's hands and that He would take care of her, I still worried. Would she pull through okay? Would our new granddaughter be healthy or would there be complications? The only way I'd know was if someone would come out and tell me.

Everything went smoothly and folks I don't normally consider myself a biased individual but I want to tell you that she is the prettiest little thing I ever laid my eyes on. She's perfect in every way. My little granddaughter and I have formed a relationship. I don't know yet if she really likes me or thinks I simply live to act silly, make funny noises and entertain her. But if she does I'll be happy to fulfill that role. Grandchildren are a great blessing from God. I hope our granddaughter comes to feel like grandmas and grandpas are a great blessing from God too.

I can tell you from experience with my own grandparents that they are. They were fun to be with, were the most spiritual people I had ever known and I just loved visiting them. They knew how to make a young boy feel special and I loved them dearly. I remember the only fight I ever witnessed them having. We had returned from an orchard where they had bought several gallons of cherries. At that time the church where my grandpa pastored made and sold homemade cherry pies to help raise money. I also loved cherries. Grandma had fixed me a big bowl and I was eating away. That's when the argument began. I have no idea what it was over; I just knew that I had never heard them talk to each other that loudly. Folks to be honest with you I was scared. They fussed on and on and the more they fussed the more nervous my stomach began to feel. The short of it was that I got rid of that big bowl of cherries about the time they walked back into the kitchen. Immediately the fight was over as they began to clean me up. I don't know if I just ate too many cherries or if it was because of their fight but whichever it was that was the end of that.

I believe that God loves grandchildren dearly. But I also have to tell you that He has none of His own. All God has is children. We need to understand that. There are many today who feel that they are okay with God because their parents were good Christian people. For some reason, because they may have been raised up in a Christian home they have the feeling that they are somehow okay with God. But God has no grandchildren. Each of us must be born into the Kingdom of God individually, one by one, and for ourselves.

In Ezekiel 18:19-20 we see God reversing an age old tradition. Because the people of the Mid-East were so dedicated to family and friends, if the father sinned or committed a crime the entire family was punished. At times this punishment was carried all the way to the third or fourth generation. It was partially because the relatives of the father would wait for the best time to get vengeance. It might be tomorrow, a year from now or ten years from now but they held grudges and did not forget. Through the Prophet Ezekiel, God told the people that the father and the son would each be accountable for their own righteousness, and their own sin. They were not to be punished because of what the other did.

It is the same today. The faith of our fathers, as strong as it was, cannot save us. We are responsible for our relationship with God for ourselves. There is only one generation under God: His children. It has been a very long standing generation but we are still part of the original one. I am only saved because I went to God through Jesus Christ for myself.

So what are you basing your relationship with God on? Are you relying on the faith of your parents? Or have you had your own personal encounter with God? Remember, God loves the grandchildren of others, but He has none Himself.

Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of five books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" "Ordeal" "The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional" and his first novel "The Shoe Tree." Listen to the daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@verizon.net