When Are You Proud, Happy, Excited, And Heart Broken, All At The Same Time?

On the day your 18-year-old grandson goes off to college 7 hours away. As he is leaving today for Southeastern University in Florida, I can't help but think about all the things we have experienced together. Isaac was 3 years old when he came out of the bathroom and couldn't zip up his pants. It didn't matter that it was Sunday morning and I was preaching in front of several hundred people, somehow getting around several adults, he came walking on stage and said, "Papaw, zip up my pants." I zipped up his pants, turned him around, patted him on the butt, and as he walked off the stage, he waved at the crowd. Then, at about four, we melted one of his sneakers on my motorcycle's exhaust while riding in the subdivision.

I have so many great memories from attending his many ball games, his teaching me to play golf, and jumping out of a plane together. Yet the memory that will get me through today is when he said, "Love you, Papaw. See you when I get back.