“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged…” (Proverbs 17:6 ESV).
Our fifth grandchild arrived this week! His name is Samuel Abbott Mitchell and he was born at the Wilson hospital at 9:14 AM this past Wednesday, October 23, 2013, weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces. Both of his grandfathers (me and Stewart Mitchell) and his uncle Stephen waited in the hallway outside the delivery room as the event took place. It was like hearing a play-by-play radio broadcast of a ballgame.
“I think I hear them telling her to push!” I said, pressing my ear closer to the delivery room door.
“Yeah, that sounds like Erin grunting!” My son Stephen exclaimed with a grin.
“I wonder what Abbott’s doing?” Stewart asked, leaning in towards the door too.
“You’re doing beautiful, beautiful!” We hear my wife, Robin encouraging Erin from inside the room.
Then… “Whaaa! Whaa! Whaa!…” The sound of baby Sammy crying fills the air!
“Wow! He sounds mad.” I announced pulling away from the door a little. You could hear his persistent infant cry up and down the hall.
“He sure does!” Agreed Stewart with a smile. “I wonder if he looks like Abbott? Abbott came into the world looking so serious.” He continued.
“Well, I don’t know whether he looks serious, but he sure has some serious lungs on him!” I announce.
Then, the door suddenly opens and Robin steps into the hall with tears pouring down her face saying, “He’s beautiful Stewart. He looks just like Abbott. And Gary, your daughter was amazing! I’m so proud of her!”
After answering a few questions we bombarded her with, she quickly stepped back into the delivery room, leaving the three of us standing in the hallway, gawking at one another with goofy grins. Grandfathers and uncles don’t get to go into the delivery room. Only mothers, fathers and special request grandmothers are allowed.
That’s OK. I’ll get my time alone with Samuel. And I’ll tell him about the day he was born and how much we all wanted him and couldn’t wait to see him. I’ll tell him about the meaning of his Hebrew name and the biblical prophet he was named after.
I’m sure that Stewart has some things to tell and teach him too. After all, we grandfathers know stuff, important stuff that we want to pass on to our children’s children.
Most of all, I want Samuel to know and follow Jesus. Like all of our other little “crowns,” I want to present him to Jesus on that Day.
You made Sabra cry! Had to laugh when you quoted grandfather Stuart about the serious look after posting the serious-looking picture of young Samuel.
We also high-fived each other over Robin’s affirmation of our first thought – he does look like Abbott!
Congratulations to all – we love you!
Love you so much Daddy!!! Very thankful we have such an amazing family to bring Samuel up in! You are a great PaPaw!!! 🙂