Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon is credited for writing: “Happy  is  he  who is  happy  in  his  children,  and  happy  are  the  children who  are  happy  in  their  father.”  Here is the context of those words:

Yet  a  home  must  be  well  ordered,  or  it  will  become a  Bedlam,  and  be  a  scandal  to  the  parish.  If  the father  drops  the  reins,  the  family  coach  will  soon  be in  the  ditch.  A  wise  mixture  of  love  and  firmness will  do  it;  but  neither  harshness  nor  softness  alone will  keep  home  in  happy  order.  Home  is  no  home where  the  children  are  not  in  obedience :  it  is  rather a  pain  than  a  pleasure  to  be  in  it.  Happy  is  he  who is  happy  in  his  children,  and  happy  are  the  children who  are  happy  in  their  father.  All  fathers  are  not wise.  Some  are  like  Eli,  and  spoil  their  children. Not  to  cross  our  children  is  the  way  to  make  a  cross of  them.  Those  who  never  give  their  children  the rod  must  not  wonder  if  their  children  become  a  rod to  them.  Solomon  says :  ”  Correct  thy  son,  and  he shall  give  thee  rest ;  yea,  he  shall  give  delight  to  thy soul.”  I  am  not  clear  that  anybody  wiser  than  Solomon lives  in  our  time,  though  some  think  they  are.

Yesterday I got to spend some time with my youngest daughter’s two children. My middle daughter and her family are currently living with us while waiting for a new home to be built, so I get to see those grandchildren quite a bit.

I have been blessed with three daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. I love the time I get to spend with them. I am happy in my children. But more than that, I know that I am blessed.

Psalm 128 A song of ascents. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.

Cheryl and I tried to raise our children to know Jesus as their Savior and keep Him first in their lives. They are doing the same with their children. To teach our children that Jesus is their Savior from sin and death is the greatest gift we can give our children. That will sustain them through whatever this world throws at them.