Dear James, Darcy, and Ellie,

What a momentous day!

James, you are about to know what the #twinvasion really means! Up to this point, you have been able to scrub up a couple of times and go see your sisters. I can’t imagine what all was going through your mind as you saw your sisters for the first time, along with all the NICU tubes and wires. I’m sure something like aliens in a spaceship came to mind! While Momma and Dadda have been busy helping your sisters get stronger, Gran and I have sure loved having you at our house!

We all want you to know that even though a great deal of things has changed, your family loves you as much as we always have. Even with two new sisters entering your world, your Momma and Dadda love you as much as your sisters. And people will come to see the twins, because they are brand new! But always know that Momma and Dadda, as well as Gran and Grandad, love you with everything we have. And somehow, we love Ellie and Darcy with the same amount of love! That love is such a gift!! That love is a gift that God offers to people, if only we will embrace it.

Your Momma was our first child. We didn’t think we could possibly love anyone more than we loved your Momma. Then, your Uncle Preston entered our family; and we learned that we could love them both with our entire hearts! We didn’t love your Momma any less. God just increased our ability to love even more! What a great gift from God!

Jesus said, “…As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34, New International Version). We have the ability to love as God loves, to love everyone as much as God does! Just imagine that!!

For some reason, people think there is a limit on love. If they love this person, then they can’t love that person. Or if they love that group, then they cannot love this group. I hurt for the times ahead when you have to experience the loss of love from people. It’s painful, and I wish I could spare you that ache. But I can’t. Just know that is not God’s kind of love. To love as God loves is to realize the ability to love everyone! When we only love a certain few people in our lives, then we are only using a tiny piece of our love capacity. God has given us the ability to love as He does; that means to love everyone!

It’s a divine gift: There is always room to love one more person within us! The world has never witnessed anyone love as Jesus loved. Maybe, James, Darcy, and Ellie, you will be the first.

Always remember that I love you, James, with everything I am. I love you, Ellie, with everything I am. I love you, Darcy, with everything I am. I love all three of you with the same love that I love each of you.

Never ever forget how much I love you,
Grandad
October 1, 2017

• Letters to My Grandchildren