Three little boys were talking about how tough they were:

"I'm so tough I wear out a pair of shoes every week," one said.

"Why, that's nothing," declared the second boy. "I wear

out a pair of blue jeans every day."

The third young fellow piped up to say, "You guys aren't so tough.

I wear my grandma and grandpa out in an hour."

That's not too hard to believe. Grandchildren invented the word "energy."

That's one reason that so many grandparents love to spoil their children's

children every chance they get and then send them home for their parents

to straighten out. That may be some kind of revenge from the tough times

we gave our parents when we were children. More than likely, though, that

spoiling business just comes with the territory. It's a grandparent's

nature to give to his or her grandkids.

One of the things a grandparent gives is a sense of heritage. It's important

to know your grandparents in order to understand your roots. I never knew

my grandfathers. One died before I was born and the other died when I

was a 1 year old.

I do remember my grandmothers very well. Both were very loving, "grandmotherly"

women of faith who loved all of us grandchildren. My maternal grandmother

especially used to spoil us with her "Granny Harris" original

peanut butter cake.

She always brought this specialty to family reunions. I remember the top

layer was always yellow, the middle layer was pink, and the bottom layer

was yellow. It was coated with sweet, peanut-butter frosting and it was

delicious. They never lasted long.

Both of my grandmothers died when I was a teenager, so I at least got

to know them during my childhood. I even remember my great-grandmother

Banks. I remember visiting her as a child. She lived out in the country

in a rustic, wood-framed house with outdoor bathroom facilities. I distinctly

remember the shotgun that hung over the front door. She died when I was

5 years old and is buried in this Fayette County soil.

I never saw a grandparent who wasn't proud of the grandchildren. No cowboy

was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling baby pictures out

of a wallet. If you really want to make a grandparent happy, ask to see

their latest pictures. But be prepared to stay awhile.

Someone defined a grandparent as an invention so simple even a child can

operate it. From what I've observed, most grandparents don't mind being

operated, either. They realize the grandchildren aren't perfect, but they

love them anyway, faults and all.

Erma Bombeck, the popular syndicated columnist, said being a grandparent

is one of life's rewards for surviving your own children. She created

a good job description for grandparents:

"A grandparent can always be counted upon to buy anything you're

selling, from all-purpose greeting cards to peanut brittle, from flower

seeds to cookies, from transparent tape to ten chances on a pony.

"A grandparent buys you gifts your mother says you don't need.

"A grandparent will put a sweater on you when she is cold, will feed

you when she is hungry, and will put you to bed when she is tired.

"A grandparent will frame a picture of your hand that you traced

over the brocade sofa in the Mediterranean living room.

"A grandparent is the only baby sitter who doesn't charge money to

keep you.

"A grandparent will believe you can read when you have the book upside

down."

Back to wearing out grandparents, I heard of one big city church that

tried a new ministry, "Grandparents Day Out," for those who

thought they needed a break from the grandkids. I bet it won't fly with

much success. Grandparents and grandchildren enjoy being together too

much.

The Rev. Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church,

Fayetteville. Grandparents Day is Sept. 10.