I am Gramma -- "Ah MA"

I have baby spoons in my silverware drawer, I have sippy cups in my cupboard, I have 2 shelves in a bookshelf in my living room set aside for toys. I have a high chair, and a pack-n-play. I AM A GRANDMOTHER! I say, "Gramma", Seth says, "Ah Ma" ~ I smile. I do love it. I find I am all the stereo-typical things people think and say about us ...those of us in this club: I feel NO rush to get anything "more important" accomplished when I am privileged to read him a story, or play 'stack the blocks and knock them down". I am entranced as I watch and listen to him think, and draw conclusions. He is cleverness itself! His laughter makes my whole day. He is, in all the Biblical intent, 'NO ORDINARY CHILD'. Now, I can nearly see you -- all of you -- shaking your heads, chuckling and saying to yourself, "Weeeelllllllllll, all grandmothers think that." But, really!!! He is amazing! He is so very very smart!!! He TRIES to be happy. He is so very loving. He sings and dances with abandon and joy ~ and any observer who is not deaf, blind and ... well, "stupid" ... could see that music is a part of his very soul. Now he is -- as are we all -- a "son of Adam" in the good and in the depraved sense. He is, well, Dr. Dobson would say, "strong-willed" ... but it might be better said, "stubborn as a brick!" I do know that. (I raised his mom.) He does know how to throw a fit, and stubbornly refuse to obey (by pretending he has no idea what you want him to do). But I am not troubled. As I said, "I raised his Mother." She is now all strength with a will submitted to her King. She shines. Seth will too!! He will be a tower and warrior ~ a MAN after God's own heart. Of this I am sure. Also...I am all too sure that his mother (yes she is my daughter, but THIS conclusion is made by his mother) thinks he does not display his "adam-ic nature" to me simply because I indulge him and give him no opportunity. I would say, "NOT true." I am not "authority" to him ~ I am "Ah Ma". When I say, "That is a NO", I think he is simply shocked and responds in obedience before he has a chance to think to do otherwise. And, I am here to play, to anticipate, to enjoy, to respond to the delight and wonder of his play ~ not to raise him. I would NEVER NEVER spoil him -- to ruin this child whether by harm or indulgence: THAT IS UNTHINKABLE. I am sure!!! it is a crime to even consider it...it is the "tie a millstone around you neck first". Seth will be fine -- better than fine, he will shine. He is being "parented" wonderfully by GREAT GREAT PARENTS.

This brings me to the second part of this wonder of being a grandmother. In this season I do not think of myself as so "grand" -- but I am mesmerized by what GRAND, wonderful, purposed, delighted, amazing, skilled, strong, ... and-and-and-and (add a multitude of other adjectives of praise) ... parents God has given ~ gifted ~ Seth. Dave and Beth are doing a GREAT job...really I mean it! Not just a good job -- so much better than that. I cannot even think how to express how much I love watching my daughter as a mother. She is becoming dimensionally so much more as a person, and as a daughter of God himself, as she parents. The love she has for Seth -- it has life and goodness to it. She is patient, and firm, she plays, she is powerful and purposed and wise and tender and discerning and SELFLESS!! It takes my breath away to watch Seth and his father. Dave is such a great DAD!! And the love Seth has for Dave and Dave has for Seth has given me all over again, in microcosm, a picture of our relationship with THE FATHER. What ever is beyond-beyond "melts my heart"... yeah, it is that! I feel a sense of wonder when I see Seth in Dave's arms.

I love this ~ this grandparent's view ~ and feel so very privileged to get to watch.