The second generation

This has absolutely nothing to do with WIW so feel free to tune out.

On Sunday we went as a family to the beach. It's something we all love to do, and it has been a rare moment this summer for all of us to be in the same place, at the same time. The weather; 85 degrees and sunny with no humidity and not a cloud in the sky...what a beautiful day!

We had heard that the beach by Beverly Shores (East of Chesterton) was nice, so we decided to try it out. We found the public access, but the parking lot said "parking by permit only" so Ted dropped us, and all our gear off at the public access, and parked about 1 1/2 miles away in a public lot and walked down the beach to find us.

The beach was fantastic, not too many people, no lifeguards, therefore no constant whistle blowing, and a nice clean bathroom. woo hoo.

We arrived early and there weren't many people for a while. Around noon, an older gentleman came and set up his gear next to us. He was friendly, asking us where we were from, and where Ted worked etc. He is a developer in Chicago, but owns (I bet one of the big ones) a house in Beverly Shores, so they spend the weekends in summertime on the beach. He continued to start several conversations with us, and even got my normally quiet husband to chat with him about different projects and locations downtown. We enjoyed his company, and he seemed to enjoy ours.

As new people arrived to the beach, he greeted folks with a wave, and started conversations with various people, and even introduced us to some other Beverly Shores dwellers. He is a nice guy all the way around.

Later in the afternoon, his children joined him on the beach. Within moments of this group's arrival on the beach, the tone of the entire day changed. Dad remained his friendly self, but the kids (probably in their 40s) were different.

The girls of the group, 3 women, most likely daghters and daughters-in-law, spent the afternoon making mean comments about everyone who passed by on the beach. "Look at that guy's orange shorts!" cackle cackle cackle "Nice outfit for the beach!" "Did you see her bathing suit?" smirk smirk smirk.

YUCK!! I wanted to move so I didn't have to listen to them, but the dad continued to chat with us, it was so awkward.

At one point, after multiple comment were made about a girl's choice of bathing suit, my always sweet, never one for confrontation, daughter Ashley said, loud enough to be heard, "Is there like some unwritten dress code for this beach or what?!" (okay that particular girl was wearing a bikini that looked like it was made out of a tissue, but still, to each her own, right?)

Have you ever watched a guy work his fingers to the bone, 100 hour work weeks, sacrificing everything to build a little empire for his family, only to hand it down to the children, for them to run straight into the ground. If I were a betting girl, I'd put my money on it that's what will happen to our beach friend some day.

Here's a regular Joe, friendly, obviously a stellar salesman, he's got the gift of gab, and takes a real interest into what a person is saying. Good with names, and obviously, as evidenced by the large home on Beverly Shores in which his famliy spends the weekends in the summer, he's good at what he does. He works, and uses his gifts and talents to get a good thing going, but his kids sure don't seem to be following in his footsteps.

They roll their eyes as the "old man" of the family makes conversation with us lowly folk. They look down their nose and critisize strangers for how they are dressed. They jump back into their BMW SUVs and head back for the suburbs where they probably act the same way.

All the while, it's dad's house they spend the weekend in. It's his hardwork and blood, sweat and tears that bought that house, clearly they don't appreciate him.

So...I was thinking...it's the same with me sometimes. God sacrifices his SON for me, and I take it so for granted. Who am I to get cranky when things don't go my way? Hasn't he done enough for me to be satisfied? I didn't even have to work for it, he handed me grace and a life everlasting, and what do I do?? Complain, critisize, whine if things don't go my way, get crabby, act like an infant.

On the beach I thought to myself, "I would NEVER act that way" but I do it too. I forget to be grateful, I'm not always humble, I don't appreciate what God has done for me. I am those ungrateful kids who don't remember that their dad worked his fingers to the bone to give them a nice life.

In the midst of moving, bringing kids to college, working, and all the rest, I will remember to be grateful to the one who gives me life. Thanks for the reminder! to our new friends from the beach.