[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The day didn’t much resemble my idea of heroic. Nor did it remotely align with my second best ideal of delightful. Today was Grammie Day #(more than I can count!). It was the first day with a 6-1 ratio of six Littles under five years old, and one “deer in the headlights” looking Grammie. Regardless I’ll tell you; it was my heart’s desire.
I’m literally sitting here typing amongst randomly spread out piles of cardboard books, baby toys, Duplos, and askew front room furniture. Hours later, I’m still in a t-shirt needing to be treated and washed from all sorts of unmentionable baby slurps, and toddler smudges and shmears. Somehow, I can’t bring myself to care.
Don’t let the title of the day fool you. Grammie Day has never been done entirely alone. Papa, better known as Stache between you and me, almost always comes to the rescue in the late afternoon. He comes in, scoops up the five oldest Littles and heads to the barn to collect eggs and perhaps, pet a chicken or chase a cat. Weather permitting, he herds them all out to the garden for a good run and some exploring. I can tell you from my perspective in the house, as I quietly bounce our littlest Little to sleep, that whole outdoor farm scene is as dreamy as it sounds!
And of course, the children love it! Today, our oldest granddaughter, intently gathered a bag full of dandelion treasures she discovered out on the farm. I’m told, she had the sweetest plans for gifting her friends and family. Sincere as could be, how could I tell her, no? The farm girl in me can’t help but imagine her Daddy’s barely restrained eye roll when he opened her surprise, and chuckle at his suburbia minded ‘distress.’
It all started ’round about sixteen years ago, or so. At the time, our five kids were aged five to twenty years old. Being homeschoolers, I still had three of our five in school. It seems the Lord was intent on sending me gifts of affirming kindness and encouragement that year. He did it in a way that continues to build my faith in Him today because He so intimately cared for me.
With my home teaching duties and an un-matchable schedule compared to most of the world, it had been many years since I was able to attend a woman’s mid-week Bible study. Our family had been going through some extreme trials. And so, I found myself needing additional fellowship, teaching, and Christian counsel.
Enter Grandma (yes, one of my Titus 2 Godsends) and Papa! They graciously offered to take over my teaching duties for one full morning a week, so I could get out and refresh my spirit. I’m guessing there is not a full-time mom or homeschooling teacher out there who wouldn’t understand the value of this gift. I’ll tell you, after umpteen years of home teaching, it was mind-blowing!
Papa and Grandma were beyond perfectly suited to teach my students their morning studies of math, science, and missions directed social studies. No doubt they gave far more than I would have had time for, and the kids LOVED the classes and time together. In fact, those mornings are some of our youngest’s favorite childhood memories.
So, what does all this nostalgia have to do with Grammie Day in 2018? Simply put, I dearly want to pass on the blessing! Although my girls are only a few years into the trenches of motherhood, I can’t help but keep asking myself, -why not bless them from the beginning?
Admittedly, Grammie Day has it’s challenges like most everything in life. I need to be vigilant to pray away any anxious anticipation of impending exhaustion. But the value of serving our girls, and the value of a long invested relationship with our grandchildren are priceless!
Starting from scratch, as long as I have Stache’s continued blessing, I’d make the same decision all over again. Exhaustion is real and certainly a factor to be considered, but just one sweet baby-faced smile, or merely one little voice saying “I love you, Grammie!”, and I’m head over heels back in the game.
Lord willing, it won’t be long, and I’ll be able to safely gather our Littles around to bake a batch of cookies or craft a school project together. Perhaps soon I can begin asking them how their Grammie can pray for them, much like my children’s grandparents did for them. That’s a glorious thought! I should start that idea this next week with our oldest granddaughter. She recently placed her faith in Jesus!
As they say, The days are long but the years are short!î I’m finding this statement to be as true for my role as Grammie, as it was for being a young mom. All this girl can say to that is, -“Lord, Thank you for these beautiful children to love as You love. Enable Stache and me to bless our girls as you blessed me. And Dear Lord, please give me the strength to complete this work in a way that glorifies You alone!”
What ways have you been blessed by such a gift from God? Or, how has God enabled you to bless your loved ones in such a way? I’d love to hear your grateful stories and thank the Lord along with you!
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It was when I cared for my mother. It was a long and hard job, but not without rewards.. God spoke to me many times during this challenge. Life, “start a support group”, Well I didn’t know just how to do that, but praying and feeling desperate for over a year, God made this desire real and brought into my life a woman that I never heard of and she had the same desire and so together we began a journey that lasted for many years.. We called it Christian caregivers and it was a major blessing to all who came. Men and women both came, and at the first meeting each one poured out their hearts and cried openly and got relief by sharing and by our prayers. The only stipulation was that they would allow us to pray for them. What a priviledge to pray over these dear ones in their grief. The one that was blessed the most WAS ME! God is good and it is through hard times we learn so much of the love of God and his compassion for his children. Would I do it again? Well now I am 84 I would have to say no, but I can encourage others to consider the benefits, but also consider and pray if this is what you are suppose to do. Not everyone can take in a parent and survive. You need a loving and compassionate husband to help as well as the Lord.
Thank you, Mom. I think you are referring here to a comment I made over on ‘My Titus 2 Godsends’. I remember your Christian Caregivers group. What a blessing you all were to your family’s and each other. I still have the book you gave us on caregiving, by Barbara Dean I believe. Love you (!), and thank you for your comments!!! They are a great encouragement to me.