Congratulations Willie!
I am sad for your friend - there is a bittersweet irony to life. My brother and I both became first time parents less than a month apart - and right between the births of his son and my daughter we lost both our paternal grandfather and grandmother four days apart. It was joy and sadness. It mixes in this strange way that lets you know you’re alive and yet that it all hangs in this delicate miraculous balance.
I understand the sentiments you expressed here very well.

Congratulations to you and your family for the gift of a little grandson.

Willie, Your words reminded me of my Mum’s departure from this world. She kept talking about THE ULTIMATE REALITY. Being so close to her Heavenly Father was to her the ultimate reality. She then struggled to give us her last words and a blessing that lives with me: “God is a faithful God. His promises are true”. Then she managed a faint smile and said: “You might as well belive them because they are”.

What an assurance to live by on this earth and what a way to depart from it to wake up into THE ULTIMATE REALITY.

Amada

Awww, he’s beautiful dude. Congratulations. How does it feel being a grandpa?

I read something yesterday about abundance over at Poser or Prophet (http://poserorprophet.livejournal.com/). He said, “However, I believe that Jesus’ promise of abundance is a promise that we will both suffer more and laugh more. It is a promise that we will experience greater sorrow and greater joy, abundant anguish and abundant peace. A promise that we will become intimate with both death and new life.”

Yeah. Still getting used to that

PS: Jacques Ellul has long been on my list to read. How (un)surprising to find him here

Hi “Willie”—congratulations on your grandson!! My first grandson was born on August 5th nine years ago! He and his little brother, born a year and five days later, are the joys of my life! I know how you feel…..walking on a cloud to say the least!
–Pam

Paul, just finished your book and thought it was very powerful and a necessary re-read. went and bought three copies for friends who’s birthday’s are in january. the guy at christian supply commented on how good it was and that they are having a hard time keeping it in stock. that is so cool! hi to you and kim and thumbs up with the darling grandchildren. we are having our fourth come out of the oven next month and all i can say is that it is a “sick love”. keep up the fabulous writing!

Dear Mr. Young. Congratulations on becoming a Grandfather, the best life. I just finished your Book The Shack. Thankyou..so wonderful. Papa is so full of grace when we really do not deserve it. I am about to give your book to 4 of my family. Last summer my nephew and his pregnant wife were out on the lake for an afternoon, when a storm blew up, as it does in Alberta, Pigeon Lake, well they headed for shore along with another boat load of fishermen. They all went under a stand of popular trees when the storm hit., lightening hit the tree they were under and mynephew was hit, died instantly , his wife stood next to him, her baby was 7 mos. the lightening went down her arm and circled the baby. Well needless to say the baby also died. .Of course they are having a hard time with all this. you know the first thing they say is were is Godwhen this happens. I would love for these people to read your book. I am sure it would help them to see things in a different light. God is so faithful, thankyou for letting me share this with you. Please keep sharing your Books with us.
Yours in Christ. Eva. Williams

Your book has shown me a side of God I never would have imagined. What healing and love I felt in turning the pages. While I still struggle with questions, like Mack, I feel like the most important answer is God’s love and the fact that he is especially fond of me. Knowing that helps when dealing with difficult times. I’m giving this book to others because I feel that all people can relate regardless of their season of life.

I just finished your book. It is was really wonderful. It has or should I say is changing my life. It has helped me move to the next level in my walk with God. I am going to purchase one for every memeber in my family. Congratulations on your grandchild. I enjoyed the same blessed event September 27, 2008. God Bless you.

Willie,
After reading your book I feel that we are close friends. You have affected my life without any doubts. On October 31,2007 I became a first time grandmother. What a wonderful feeling!! After reading your book, though, I now have a much deeper feeling to guide my granddaughter through this life with her eyes on God. Thank you for writing this book and letting me “see” the Trinity. Joy in Jesus!

I have a new grandson too; a fighter who shouldn’t be here today. His mom has cancer. Her body was poisoned by chemo; she smoked to calm her nerves; she ate comfort food and became diabetic and Mikil began trying to escape the womb two months before he was due. He was born with congenital pneumonia, jaundice, and a plethora of other medical problems. His lungs weren’t fully formed and he was on oxygen for his first week of life. It took all his energy to breathe and there was none left to nourish himself, so he was poked and prodded with various IVs. And when he cried his undeveloped lungs wouldn’t permit him to scream as loudly as the other babies in the nursery. Instead, they were soft whimpers. But two months later, on Father’s Day, I held my grandson in church while waiting to have him dedicated. He lay there looking up at me and smiling, his eyes big as he tried to take in the colors of the stained glass windows next to our seat.

His mom’s tumors have grown. She’s in a lot of pain and the drugs make her sleep a lot. When she’s awake, she holds Mikil and loves on him. He has no father, she has no husband. Her mom cares for her and her five year old son, and now Mikil. Mikil doesn’t know he’s in a broken family or that his mom may pass away before his first birthday. He may have no memory of his mom. But God has been so good by protecting Him and entrusting Mikil to broken people. Losing a daughter is a scary thing, but thank God that we have a relationship with the One who can reunite us. I don’t know how people without faith cope with loss. If they only knew how much Papa loves us, and how He will use the worst in life to give us beautiful gifts like Mikil.