I hope everyone enjoyed the recent Labor Day weekend. While getting ready for a family picnic, my grand-daughter, who is 14 and just beginning her freshman year in high school, came in. “Oh, Grandma,” she sighed. “I just need you to hug me or bake me some cookies.”
Her mom and I laughed. “You just need a Grandma, huh?” I said.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well, I’m here,” I assured her.
We traveled to Kendallville for the annual gathering of my husband’s side of the family. It was a great time of picnicking with hot dogs and salad. The kids went swimming, the guys did some fishing and us Grandmas and mamas enjoyed visiting, spoiling the babies and catching up on the family news.
Our one niece, who recently became a Grandma for the second time, commented on what an amazing feeling being a “Nana” is. She said, “I had thought I loved my kids more than anything and that the feeling could never be matched, but….” She held her grand-daughter close.
I agreed wholeheartedly. “Becoming a Grandma is like falling in love again. We become vulnerable and at their mercy in every way….but we wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world.”
Having grown up about 500 miles from my own grandparents, I never got to know any of them really well. We saw each other about every five years or so. Still, just being able to say “my Grandma” or “my Grandpa” gave me a warm feeling inside. Memories of them are few, but precious.
Today my goal as Grandma to six, three boys and three girls, is to make sure they know about Jesus and how much He loves them. Hopefully I can do something to ensure they have a better future than what the present projects. I try not to preach to them, but answer their questions and show by example the importance of putting God first in their lives.
All of us Christians…. and Grandmas…. can relate to the description of love found in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. My favorite translation of these verses are from The Living Bible:
4 Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.
5 Never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong..
6 It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.
7 If you love someone you will always be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend as much as I did. A new week is underway so it’s back to work and back to school. My prayer is that you all experience the glory of God’s love today and everyday. As for me….I might just go bake some cookies.
