Friday, March 23, 2007

My dearest God,

I called Sophie yesterday morning. Now that she was six years old, I wanted to hear about her birthday party at Jungle Java. "It was fun, Grandma." She told me. Fifteen little girlfriends had RSVP'd to join my grandchild for her birthday celebration. She rattled on all the things she had fun doing. She had been especially glad to open her presents.

Sophie was excited about sharing the same age as her cousin. "Gabrielle and I are both six now, Grandma." She proudly told me. "I know. Isn't that fun?" I asked. She and her slightly older cousin are very close. They are thrilled to be moving geographically closer together this summer.

Then she told me bad news. "Grandma, a boy hit me in the eye during my party." "What? Someone hurt my granddaughter on her birthday? Who was it? Why did he hit you?" I cried out. I wanted to know the name of this evildoer to send someone to take this boy out. (Not really, I'm not a violent woman but I was sorry to hear my Sophie spent 30 minutes crying with a swelling, sore eye while sitting on her daddy's lap during the time the other kids played.) I lapped on love to my grandchild as I talked with her on the phone. "I love you, Grandma." She told me as she handed the phone to my daughter. "It's Grandma with the Curly Hair."

Sophie and her family are moving back to Indiana, maybe to our town. We've already looked at model homes. I am overjoyed to have them back.

Sophie and her cousin Gabrielle and I are very close to one another. We love being together, doing special, fun, memorable things. Gabrielle once told me that she had announced to her other grandmother that I was her favorite grandma. Oh, dear, I thought. When I expressed concern for her announcement, she told me not to worry that her grandma was okay with that. Grief!

When these six year olds get together they will grow up within 20 minutes of each other. They will share stories that no one else will ever hear. They will laugh and cry together. They will get to know each other's friends. They will learn about life from one another. And me? Well, I have a little of the wisdom that Gabrielle often imparts. I will spend less and less time with them as they grow older. Friends will take on greater value than an "old" grandma, although the girls have both assured me that they will never be too old to sit on my lap. "Even when you're a hundred, Grandma, and I have kids, I will still sit on your lap." Gabrielle once assured me.

These moments on the phone are priceless. I love listening to little voices share their perspective on things. I love their enthusiasm, their zeal for life, their excitement when they discover something new. I see life through the eyes of a six-year-old and I know creation is still evolving. God is still presenting new life experiences. Hmm, how wonderful!

Gift-Giving God,
my grandchildren
are prized possessions
never to be contained.
I love opening up
new worlds to them.
Imagination.
Creativity.
Awe and wonder.
When I purposefully look
through the lens of their eyes,
I know the world
is in good hands.
It is lovely,
hope-filled,
fully alive.

Love, Andrea