I have always considered myself extremely blessed to be a father. I got married at age 23 and divorced at age 28. I am now age 60 and have never remarried, nor do I plan to.

Though the marriage was difficult, it produced a son, Aaron, who is now age 34. From the moment Aaron was born, I threw myself into the daily enterprise of raising him, and did so with gusto and enthusiasm.

(Barb, who remarried two years later, and I divorced when Aaron was but 2 years old, but we lived just three miles apart, had an excellent relationship, and raised him together. Because of my newspaper work hours, I was able to see Aaron seven days a week.)

As the years passed and I learned of the many unfortunate couples who had tried so ardently to have children but couldn’t, I considered myself even more fortunate, and worked even more diligently at being a good dad.

When Aaron graduated high school, we left New Mexico for Orlando, Florida; I had the joy of never having had to be separated from my only child.

Aaron got married to Kati and had a son, Zac, in late 2016. He was my first grandson. For now, Aaron and Kati are undecided about having more children, but they have had the one, and, speaking from a grandfather’s point of view, I am thrilled. I have again had that feeling of great privilege; to be fortunate enough to have had the one.

As Aaron is the only child I will ever have, and if Zac is the only grandchild I will ever have, I will have been blessed beyond anything I deserve.

The little guy has become one of the greatest joys of my life, and I feel a profound gratitude to God for allowing me this unmerited blessing.

Hmm … I thought I’d more to say, and I suppose this is not as deep, or well thought out as my usual blogs, but it will suffice. Maybe more than anything, it is an expression of gratitude to God. Psalm 31:10 expresses it well: “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

To God be the glory!

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David Ettinger was born and raised in a Jewish family in New York. After moving to New Mexico as an adult, he suffered through many trials. The nudge of the Holy Spirit caused him to examine his heart and in 1986 he surrendered his life to Jesus and has walked with Him ever since.

David holds a BA, and MA, in English from New Mexico State University. He began his journalism career writing for The Roundup, the university paper. After graduation he became the sportswriter for the El Paso Times. At the Las Cruces (New Mexico) Sun-News he was sportswriter before becoming an editor.

Later his career led him to Orlando, Florida. He served as the writer/editor at The Holy Land Experience. David has also performed in the function of writer/editor for the First Baptist Church of Orlando. Valencia College invited him to teach English Comp for several years.

At the present time he is active in providing his skills with Zion’s Hope, Inc., in Winter Garden, Florida. His publications include Lifeway publications, Single Parent magazine (Focus on the Family), Zion’s Fire magazine, and Real Life magazine. In addition, he served as managing editor for Zion’s Fire and Real Life. David’s book, Overcomers: 30 Stories of Triumph from the Bible, is available online.

David is proud of his son and grandson.

He invites you to follow blog Here. He would also love for you to read his Testimony. He is avaialbe for review on Facebook.

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