Image by Steve Bidmead from Pixabay
Capt. Robert Edward Ludlow Sr., watching six of his seven grandchildren playing while eight-year-old Edwina was off with Mrs. Thalia Ludlow at Fruitland Memorial Park, found himself strangely moved as he noticed something from their perspective for the first time. He was watching them, but they were also watching him … whenever they tried something they were not sure of, or whenever they did something they thought was extraordinary, their little eyes looked for him to notice, and his face and voice to affirm them. Sometimes they were not sure in a discussion, and instantly, they were going to come to him for help to figure it out. If somebody fell down, all of the rest were going to come help, but it was expected – and never disappointed – that he himself was coming to check things out and make sure everyone was good.
“I literally have nothing better to do today,” he had expressed to Lieutenant G.H. Truss, who looked to him as a father and mentor. “It helps to be retired with an officer's pension, and it helps to have a successful business, but also: I literally have nothing better to do than be what I have committed myself to be: their father, by adoption, as well as their grandfather.”
“But what about all the man stuff we like to do?” Lt. Truss asked.
“Well, let's look at that. I'm married, happily. No need to be looking for a woman. Hunting and all that: look up my kill record sometimes in the Army. Done enough of that. Look up my legal records and see what happened to every single person responsible for my grandchildren suffering in foster care. I have dominated the things in my purview in the civilian world when I wanted to as well. I don't have to compensate myself with 'mannish' hobbies, Lieutenant. The Lord has made me more than a conqueror when I needed to be that. I have the fastest-growing food business in Lofton County – we can hardly keep the Ludlow Bubbly on shelves, and I am about to exit and let that be somebody else's headache while I set up my grandkids for life. I'm good on the man things, Lieutenant!”
“Well, when you put it like that, Captain – sheesh!” Lt. Truss said. “I mean I know I'm 35 and you are 58 and you've done more stuff but sheesh!”
“I did not even start in this direction until age 39, Lieutenant. Enjoy that four-year headstart you are going to get on me as you continue to learn how to walk humbly with the Lord. Mess up less, Lieutenant!”
All that for a younger man who also was raised by his grandfather … Capt. Ludlow noticed that the crowd of younger officers who had that experience gravitating to him was notably increasing.
But for him … Mrs. Ludlow found her husband silently in an ecstasy of tears by the time she and Edwina got back.
“He's crying,” Edwina said, “but he looks very happy!”
“Tears of joy – probably thinking about y'all,” Mrs. Ludlow said. “You know that nothing makes your grandfather happier in the world than you and your fellow grandchildren.”
“Yeah, and we feel the same way about him and you,” Edwina said, and started bawling.
“She's actually a lot like me in that respect, without the burden of command,” Capt. Ludlow said to his wife after Edwina had calmed down and she had gone to play with the rest of her siblings.
“Right,” Mrs. Ludlow said. “A penny for your thoughts – I'd like to be radiantly happy too!”
“And you can,” he said, “for I was just thinking that the same way that I need someone to approve of me, to help me when I am hurt or uncertain, to step in when I cannot help myself, and to just be that one I can always count on, I don't need to burden you with all that, because we both have the same Heavenly Father, doing the job!”
“Yep – instant happiness!” Mrs. Ludlow said. “Now that's what I call a cause for joy. And you know who is never going to have trouble understanding that concept about God?”
“Who?”
“Our grandkids, because, as Lil' Robert says, 'Because Papa!'”
Capt. Ludlow burst into silent tears again.
“I literally have nothing better to do with the rest of my life,” he said, “but to be a good example of the concept.”
“And you are about to get tested in five, four, three, two –.”
“Hey, Papa!” nine-year-old George said, “I need a jackhammer real quick because although it's kinda hard to dig all the way through the center of the earth and reach China, Andrew was telling me the earth has layers. So, I'm thinking if we do this right, we can get through enough of the crust to make our very own Ludlow volcano, right here in Lofton County!”
“Remind me, George, when I order the Lego sets that Grayson needs to build y'all's spaceport in the middle of the cul-de-sac, to throw a couple of jackhammers in the order.”
“OK, cool – thanks, Papa!”
“That has to be the most beautiful application of a father forgiving because his kids know not what they do I have seen today!” Mrs. Ludlow said.
“God the Father only knows how often, for His Son's sake, He forgave me when I didn't have a clue and there was no point in explaining because I was not even ready to understand,” Capt. Ludlow said. “I have done things far dumber than planning to build my own volcano – yet I am here in the sunshine with literally nothing better to do than show forth how He treated me with kindness!”
“But, are volcanoes really safe to have around, George?” seven-year-old Amanda was saying to her brother.
“Not really, but, look, Mandie, we're not going to put it by the houses or near the spaceport. We're going to dig it across the street where it is close enough to keep an eye on and put caution tape around and all that!”
“Oh, OK,” Amanda said.
“I gotta go now,” Mrs. Ludlow said. “I gotta go start dinner after getting in bed and laughing until I cry into a pillow.”
“Get enough in for me, dear,” Capt. Ludlow said as he chuckled softly, “and, you'll find I already put the meat and veggie patties you need in the fridge so they are thawed and ready to go when you are ready for them.”