The Grandma Calling

I saw the cutest picture today of a little baby on the internet . She was wearing a cute little shirt that read : "What Santa doesn't bring me Grandma will." I couldn't help but laugh, for I know how true those words are. Giving her everything of value is part of the Grandma Calling. As a grandmother myself I can speak from knowledge and experience.

Being a Grandmother is a calling. It is a calling that is earned through patience, years of preparation and experiences too numerous to count. Being a grandmother means you have the opportunity to teach and share gifts only you can give. These gifts are not always physical, but are always given with love and a desire to make sure her grandchild has everything he or she could ever dream of. The gifts may come silently and unexpected, or wrapped in pretty papers on special occations. The gifts will be given before anyone even asks for them, for inspiration is a key part of the blessing of receiving the calling of Grandmother.

Each grandmother has gifts only she can give in her own way. One grandmother may have a talent and love for music, and will give instruments, music, songs, recordings, and teach her grandchildren to enjoy all kinds of music and love harmony, not just in music but to look for the harmony and music in life and experiences. Another grandmother may have a gift of humor, She may teach her grandchildren to look for the laughter in life, the funny side of experiences or that life is a fun experience with a few side stops here and there to find sorrow, pain or results of choices for a short time. Another grandmother may have the gift of work and will teach how to serve with a gladness of heart and charity and concern for other. She may teach that work is really just a word that means doing your best at whatever you are doing using all your skills and abilities. Another may give the gift of words through books, stories, poems, educational experiences or letters. Another grandmother's calling may be teaching patience, forgiveness, humility and unconditional love. She may do this through example, support, tolerance and faith. Yet another grandmother may share her creative talents. She may teach not just the art of making something but the principle that everyone is a creator in some way, how pieces work together to make something that never existed before but gives pleasure once it is complete. She may teach a freedom of expression through the use of paper, brushes, colors, glitter and glue. Another grandmother may choose to fulfill her calling not by giving gifts directly to her grandchild, but supporting, enmpowering or encouraging the parents in ways that will affect their entire family. It might be the power of prayer, the sharing of a testimony, or experiences. It could be giving the parents knowledge of how to make it through each stage of their child's life with sanity, balance and peace. This grandmother may remind the parents to enjoy every momemt, for even though it may seem impossible to endure, she knows how soon the moments will flee and memories will be the thing they will treasure for many more years to come.

It does not matter the age, circumstances, location or reasons a woman receives the calling of Grandmother. Once accepted the calling is for her lifetime. Once received, the calling will bring a lifetime of new experience, new joys and happiness beyond belief and a new capacity to love and and endless supply of love returned. A grandmother will hold her title with pride. She will strive to honor all others called by the same name by being the best, most generous grandmother she can be, everyday in everyway.