Their time here flashed before my eyes as we said goodbye. Hugged everyone, spoke silly words, told each I loved ‘em, and watched as the car backed out of the driveway. David had sweet, shiny tears on his cheeks as he strained to see out the back window. So happy to see them. So fun.

Got me thinking. Why happy? I know people joke that it’s so great when the grandkids arrive, and even better when they leave. It’s only funny because it’s not true. Funny because the love is so huge that there’s no way any grandparents with red blood in their veins is “glad” they’re gone. Sure, we get to put the house back in order. And yet, while cleaning up, Fruit Loops under the coffee table, Legos on the floor, and their toilet is unflushed…we smile. Not so good they’re gone.

Arthur Brooks taught a not-for-credit class (should be core curriculum) on happiness at Harvard. He says we generally suffer a misunderstanding, that happiness is when we arrive. We get the mar- riage, the kids, the house, the car, the promotion, the retirement check. Arrivals are momentary and passing. A new car loses that smell or at least we don’t notice it, after a very short time. Brookes suggests that happiness is a life choice that results from a combined, ongoing engagement in faith, family, friends, and work (throwing in some qualifiers since “faith” and “family” can be bad words among the snoot sophisticates). Makes sense!

I remember as a kid someone saying, “It’s a sin to bore a kid with the gospel!” So, why was church so boring? How did church get to be a place where people sit in the pews looking like they’ve got gall stones? The frozen chosen? Why do so many churches advertise themselves as welcoming then fail to welcome?

At church, faith, family, friends and work are all in play. This is supposed to be a happy place and a place to be happy. For happiness results from making our contributions to the lives of others (work), reaching out to those we don’t know (friends), connecting with one another in fellowship that is way more than coffee and cookies (family), learning and leaning on the love of God through Christ (faith). My hobby horse for years has been that the church is not acting like the church!

Back to grandkids. They came into my house, and I insisted that they sit quietly, not fight, put things away when they were done, keep their voices down, and behave themselves like good boys. When they are at my house, it’s going to be like church!!

THAT…would not put shiny tears onto David’s face.