Grandchildren

Last night we celebrated the birthdays of our two grandchildren. Born two years and two days apart, these two are amazing!

No surprises here coming from Granddad, huh?

You got it! This little 3-year-old girl and this little 1-year-old boy make the world turn for me. No way to explain it unless you've been here with grandchildren of your own.

They completely redefine life, language and love. Laughter, curiosity, energy and hope just jump out of these new little lives--packages of joy and tears and innocence. Nothing could be better.

Of course, all of the adults in their lives go overboard on gifts, celebration and partying when it comes to these two. Gifts, food, singing, playing, jumping, joking, prodding. . .and this from people old enough to know better!

There is just something about little ones to renew your hope and to refocus life on purpose.

The party was a real hoot.

Every time I am with these two incredible little people I think of the children and grandchildren of my friends in the city.

I know that they feel the same way about their children as my children feel about theirs. I know from talking to them that they want the same things for them--a good life, a better life than they had coming up, opportunity, security, safety, peace and purpose.

They share the same concerns as I about schools, health, housing and a future. We all dream in the same way about the little ones in our lives. Oh, the details may be slightly different, but the major themes are the same.

Money matters.

People locked up in poverty can dream all they want, but they can typically deliver only in limited ways.

Don't misunderstand. They can give love, nurture, time, encouragement, affection and the genuine commitment that helps make a parent's role work. But, they are limited by economics, severely limited when it comes to the forces that shape life in a better way and fill young lives with opportunity.

Poverty today is complex. Factors are at work today that have nothing to do with individual initiative or hard work. The promise of America that everyone who works hard can "make it," is today a hollow promise. Millions of my fellow citizens work hard, very hard; yet, they are falling further and further behind as the economic and opportunity gap between the haves and the have nots widens.

Impoverished neighborhoods find ways to unravel after decades of poverty's assault. Dark forces produce some out-of-control dynamics that make life incredibly challenging for children and families.

Just last night gang-related gunfire struck down a 16-month-old child as he played in his front yard in one of our inner city neighborhoods in Ft. Worth. Today the child remains in critical condition. No doubt, his parents and grandparents are devastated.

Last night I enjoyed myself enormously. I look forward to many more parties with these two special little ones and, hopefully a few more!

At the same time, I'll keep the children and grandchildren of others in mind. There is much to do to make things better here for all of our children.