Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

      To my sons whom I love.
      I remember a trip my youngest son and I traveled together on in 2007. It was a father-son trip to Australia because my son had been born there and he would turn twenty years old on this trip. He had no recollection of Australia because we had moved to Canada when he was a one-year-old child. We had a wonderful time traveling throughout the great and free state of Queensland as I introduced my son to his roots per se. 
      After three weeks in Australia, we thought we would spend the last week of our vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii. In Honolulu, as we were walking toward the beach access next to the Hilton Hotel, we noticed an elderly man in his late eighties and his son. The son was helping his dad cross the street by allowing his father to use his arm to steady himself as they shuffled their way across the crosswalk. 
      My twenty-year-old son looked at them and smiled a radiant smile then said, “Hey dad, look, that will be you and me thirty years from now when we are traveling together.” In that moment I had joy, because my son saw himself involved in my life. Prov. 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Remembering that, made me smile today.
      One day in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, my oldest son – who was five years old at the time – was fishing off of the pier with myself and my friend Don. It was a warm and quiet afternoon. There were about eight other elderly fishermen along the rail casting and jigging for different fish. No one was catching anything. Suddenly my son’s fishing rod bends to the extreme and he is asking for help to bring in his catch. 
      We landed a ten-pound flatfish, and everyone on the pier came over to see the big catch laying at my son’s feet. There was some jealous grumbling amongst the people as they looked at the boy, then the fish. Suddenly, my son with his hands on his hips and with a loud voice says, “Well praise the LORD, hey dad?” My friend Don and I busted out laughing and said, “Amen, praise the LORD is right!” Isa. 11:6b And a little child shall lead them. Remembering that, made me smile today.
       Years ago when my youngest son was nine years old, I came home off of a road-trip and my sons was hugging me and happy to see me home. It had been a successful business trip and I was feeling good because I had landed some prosperous accounts. I had some road-money left in my pocket, so I gave the boys a ten dollar bill each. 
      My youngest son looks at the money in his brother’s hand and he looks at the money in his hand, then with a serious look on his face but a twinkle in his eye he points his finger at me and says” What did you do with my father?” I just busted into laughter. What timing, what a funny sense of humor. I was so grateful to God for wonderful children. Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Remembering that, made me smile today.
      This year at Thanksgiving my oldest son was home with us for dinner. Before eating, I asked everyone around the table to share something they were grateful for this Thanksgiving. There were some good moments of grateful expression, but none was more blessed when my son said that he was so grateful for being in his right mind and place in his family. That God had done a good work in him. 
      Over the last few years, he had gone through a hard time, but had found his way home and was now living in the grace that God and family gives generously to loved ones. Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Remembering that, made me smile today.
       What made you smile today? We are richer then we think and God’s currency isn’t always cash. The Lord blesses in ways that are incalculable and beyond worldly wealth. His agenda for us is to have us choose what is eternal and these thoughts made me smile today. Matt. 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.