This past weekend, I was able to spend some time with my wife and both of my sons.

During this time, I thought about how blessed we are and have been. Two of the best things in my life are my children.

I have been blessed to be able to watch them grow from newborns into the fine young men they have become. To say that I am proud of them would be an understatement to an infinite degree.

However, I cannot take very much credit for what they have become. Their mother has been a great influence on their lives.

One of my favorite books of the Bible is the Book of Psalms. Answers to so many of life issues can be found inside the chapters of this great book of the Bible. Praise and prayer to God are the topics in many of the Psalms, but also instruction on life and teaching the reader about godliness are also included.

Contained in the Psalms are a few verses about children that really spoke to me and would to most parents:

“Children are a heritage from the LORD,

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.” Psalm 127: 4-5 (NIV)

God, the giver of life, saw fit to allow us to raise our sons and our life has been so much richer for this. I cannot imagine what our life would have been like without Jordan and Jacob.

There have been so many good times and memories that books and photo albums could not possibly contain. No amount of video can possibly portray the lifetime of events that have been recorded in your heart and soul through your children.

I look forward to watching their lives continue to unfold, as they find the persons they will share their lives with and make their career choices. They have ups and downs, mistakes and triumphs along the way, tears and smiles, good times and bad.

No matter what life brings I hope and pray they will continue to share their lives with us and know that both their Mom and I will always be there for them.

I also hope they are blessed with children that enrich their lives as much as they have ours.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.