Reading Along With You

 I came across this picture the other day and had to pause. I couldn't help but think about my grandparents, and my parents and their examples of reading.  

I can never think of my Grandmother Ivie's house without thinking about the boxes and stacks of Reader's Digest magazines she had in her back entry hall. I know at one time one of my cousins and I discovered that she had copies of the magazine dating back more than twenty years.  Of course, why wouldn't she?  No matter what year or what month you opened there were articles and thoughts that were as timely in the present as they were when originally written.  Humor never grows old, and there were always several pages of  stories that would make you laugh.  Need an interesting topic for a school essay?  There was better place than the Reader's Digests in grandma's back room to find an interesting story or topic of discussion. I wouldn't be surprised if our first reading experiences began with reading to grandma.  Even if the newest volume was on the kitchen table, that didn't mean the previous three or four months were stashed away.  You could find a different month's worth of article in any room you wanted- the living room (you could read a joke during a commercial break), the bedroom (a nice story can give you pleasant dreams), and of course the bathroom (short or long reading material to help pass the time). 

My Grandma and Grandpa Pugh were also avid readers of the magazine, although Grandma Pugh didn't keep as many back copies. However, as they came monthly in the mail, and the articles fore timeless, there were still multiple months of the magazine available to browse through.  What Grandma Pugh did save were the Reader's Digest Condensed Books that came quarterly.  With the average of 4 -5 current books (fiction and non-fiction)  it didn't take long to gain a collection of good reading material.   I fondly remember reading not only the current writers, but also many classic stories.  I grew as a young lady to love these books and treasure them. I even borrowed many of these for use in English and Literature class discussions. 

With both sets of grandparents sharing the importance of this magazine, it is no wonder that my parents followed.  I would guess that mom and dad had a subscription to the Reader's Digest until the day dad died just short of turning 92.   One of the most heartbreaking things for me in cleaning out the den, was admitting that I didn't have room in my home to keep mother's collection of Reader's Digest Condensed Books.  I can't count, nor would I want to how many of those stories I read through the years, or how many mother used in some of her book club reading.  It didn't matter which book you pulled from the shelf, there were always multiple stories you just couldn't put down. 

It is my hope that someday my own children find themselves unsuccessful in cleaning out my attic or library.  May the love of reading good books and stories be passed from generation to generation, not only in my family but in yours as well.  

Have a wonderful day- Read a good story. 

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.