On seeing the next generation
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that our elder son and his wife were expecting their first baby. Well, on Tuesday, after some delay, Simeon John finally emerged into the world. He is doing very well and we hope to see him and his family this weekend.
Inevitably one’s first grandchild brings back memories of his parent’s birth.
John, Simeon’s father, was born in Beirut in the spring of ’82. It was a jumpy, uneasy time as we were expecting an Israeli invasion any day. After seeing the new baby, I remember heading off through the badly lit streets of West Beirut where PLO gunmen lingered nervously in doorways, up to the bright lights of Commodore Hotel which was one of the few places where you could guarantee getting a phone line out of Lebanon. The place was full of journalists trying to file stories about the war brewing in the south. Eventually, at what seemed an enormous expense, I managed to have a few minutes on a crackly, distant line and passed on the good news. The next day I took some photographs and got a roll of film developed (some of you youngsters may not remember this process), had duplicate photos printed and sent them off by airmail to the grandparents. I think it must have been two weeks after the birth when the photos arrived in the UK. With Simeon’s birth, the happy father (who has inherited an interest in photography from both sides of the family) e-mailed us some good digital images within hours. Technologically the world has changed a lot.
Incidentally, six weeks after John was born the long predicted war erupted with appalling violence and where we lived and the hospital came under sustained artillery and aerial bombardment by the Israelis. We fled an already encircled West Beirut and then Alison and John were evacuated courtesy of the French Navy while I stayed on for another few days. We were out of all contact for the next week or so. One would like to think that the technological changes over the last quarter of a century have been matched by political progress and the Middle East is now a saner and safer place. Oh well….
Anyway Simeon’s arrival means of course that we are grandparents; we will by agreement be ‘Grandma’ and ‘Grandpa’. Frankly, I’m still coming to terms with this. I only just seem to have got out of adolescence and now I am a grandfather? Well I can live with it. The main thing is that it is a great blessing. To have children is a blessing and to see them have children is doubly so.
Anyway next week I hope to talk about the other new addition to our family, my new iPhone 3G, which currently carries on it – amongst other things – yes you guessed it, pictures of Simeon John.
Have a good week.
Themocracy
Thanks, Chris, for sharing this! It has been a blessing in the wings even for us far-off radial spokes on the wheel of life.
It is hard to see what is going on in the ME without feeling mixed as a Christian–how much more when your newborn carries you into the line of fire!
I pray God gives the family a more peaceful nativity with Simeon. And may the coming seasons be full of joy.
Blessings,
Ben
Congratulations!
Congratulations Grandpa Walley! (and Grandma Walley too!!)
Congratulations, Chris, on your just born and first grandson! He looks to be a bundle of joy and what a head of hair!!
We just celebrated this past June our third grandchild (all boys, one from each of our own children) and all I can say is that it is such a blessing to be able to be a part of their lives. However, each new one that comes along makes me scratch my own head and wonder how the years leading up to this point could all have gone by so quickly! I have to console myself by realizing that it is all in God’s plan.
Blessings to you and your family,
Geoff
A great big CONGRATULATIONS!! He’s beautiful.
Congratulations! And thank you for sharing the photo. He’s gorgeous!
Congrats on the grandbaby!
Congratulations Chris and family!! A wonderful blessing to you.
I am awaiting the arrival of my iPhone with bated breath.
Again, congratulations!
doug
Wonderful picture! They’re so cute when they’re new born (and sleeping all the time).
Boaz, who’s little Obed is just over a year old…
CONGRATS! He is such a sweet looking baby!
I saw this when you posted about it, but just the next couple of days later, a dear friend lost her 4 in an accident. Since then I have really not been on my computer.
I am so glad that everything went well and you have a beautiful grandchild!
CONGRATS again
Miss Amanda
http://superangelsblog.com
Congratz!