Nothing can sharpen or shake up the five senses so thoroughly as being in love . Whoaaa . Now slow down . This isn ’ t about that
Sincerely Yours - Jumana A . Swindler contributing writer
Nothing can sharpen or shake up the five senses so thoroughly as being in love . Whoaaa . Now slow down . This isn ’ t about that
fragile giddiness you feel when you think you ’ ve met the man of your dreams or the heart palpitations and hot flashes that come all over you when Mr . Right smacks that big kiss on ‘ ya . Remember what I taught you . That ’ s the kind of love that should over time get comfortable and relaxed -- like your favorite pair of old sneakers or baggy gray sweats that you wear to walk on the beach when you don ’ t care who is watching .
I am talking about baby love , and not the kind that Mommy and Daddy feel when they swoon over their precious bundle of joy . It ’ s the love a grandparent feels when they cuddle with a cutey patooty that reminds them of the best parts of what they have inherited from their predecessors or passed on to their own children .
Like a wonderful book or story preserved for ages ahead , as grandparents , we can consider ourselves “ first editions ” with enough improvements made along the way that we see the newest versions , a classic in living color , in our grands .
And isn ’ t “ grand ” a great word for these darling offspring and our love for them ? I know why they are called grands . They really are . The definition of grand : “ denoting something large or the most important item of its kind .” Yep , that ’ s what grandchildren are . They rank above everything else . At least in my dictionary and life .
By the way , do you clip and save things ? Well my mom and grand mom were notorious for it , posting thought provoking messages on the refrigerator that is , especially Dear Abby warnings and sage advice . Here are some of my favorite quotes about grandchildren and grand parenting . Feel free to tape to your icebox :
- Never have children , only grandchildren . ~ Gore Vidal - When grandparents enter the door , discipline flies out the window . ~ Ogden Nash - Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being . ~ Margaret Mead - To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid . ~ Robert Brault , - A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do . ~ Lois Wyse - On the seventh day God rested . His grandchildren must have been out of town . ~ Gene Perret
Getting back to those heightened senses when you ’ re in grand love . Ever notice how the smell of baby skin , especially when you sniff the crook of that sweet thing ’ s neck , renders you weak in the knees . Not even a poopy diaper shakes that effect away .
When you feed the grand , whether as an infant with a bottle or when you play airplane with the spoon of nasty looking green peas that look like a prop from the Exorcist ( first version , scary one ), your little loves look you in the eyes and say wordlessly , “ I trust your instincts that this is good for me .” That bond establishes a whole future of honesty and secrets to be shared .
When you hold those fingers in your own sanitizer rough hands , noticing the little digits compared to your sun-bleached skin and age spots , you remember God ’ s Grace in the circle of life and feel blessed to be included in His perfect plans . And it ’ s your job to teach it at future opportunities along the way .
Sometimes you taste those tears , shed by your grands ’ growing pains . Bittersweet , they are droplets and reminders that hurt also makes us cherish the wonderful .
And most of all , when you hear the sweetness of their giggles or the squeaky little voice calling out your name , the tingle in your own belly or lump in your throat reminds you that it ’ s true love .
So with Silver in our hair and Gold in our hearts , grandparents unite . It ’ s the best way to celebrate this month ’ s occasion to focus on love , laughter and life . Happy Valentine ’ s Day to all .
1 Corinthians 13:4
62 FEBRUARY 2017 SHEMAGAZINE . COM