Bragging Rights

I used to wonder why people got so soppy about their grandchildren, boasting of the children’s exploits, and dragging out the ubiquitous photos of, honestly, quite ordinary looking children. I used to think this was really a bit much…I mean really…

And then it happened. We got news from Josh & Nicole that we were first time grandparents…Amber had been born! Suddenly, the world changed. Our first-born son and his wife had managed to produce a prodigy…an amazing specimen of a girl…precocious…and the most beautiful creature anyone ever laid eyes on! I collected photo after photo (my laptop was crowded with them), I gazed at them frequently and called them up whenever anyone was unfortunate (or unwise?) enough to ask about our new granddaughter. We recounted all the little anecdotes Josh frequently shared, our eyes sparkling, chests swelled up with pride. This was getting soppy!

Then the opportunity came for a quick visit to the U.S., when Amber was one year old. How exciting! I was going to get to meet her in person…this prodigy, this amazing little girl! Only something huge like this would have inspired me sufficiently to travel internationally by myself (Chip was already in the States at a conference and I was to meet him there). Josh picked me up at the airport. I couldn’t wait to meet my granddaughter. Naturally, she was everything I expected to find in person – cute, smart, witty (yes, even at 1 year!), and more. (You all do realize that I was not biased in the least bit!). And then it happened. Amber did the most amazing thing (I say this with tongue firmly implanted in cheek). Amber had just started experimenting with walking, but always holding onto something or someone. Josh had put her favorite T.V. show on– a children’s musical show with lots of dancing, and had been holding her hand as she stood in front of the television, entranced. He gradually let go of her hand and left her standing there, completely oblivious to the fact that her father had let go. The next song came on and she started dancing, without holding onto anything, just wriggling around, ‘singing’ along with the song and enjoying herself thoroughly. At some point, she turned, saw the adults all celebrating, realized she was standing without the usual support, and plopped down on the floor, puzzled. What were all these adults making such a fuss about?

Indeed! That is what becoming a grandparent does to a person. It makes them sappy. Grown, strong men can cry. Sensible women suddenly babble on and on. Both drag out these endless pictures to show off and recount boring exploits. It’s kind of sad. But you know what? I love it. I wouldn’t trade being a grandmother for any other role. Let the people wonder what happened to my sanity. It’s all just part of the package and it is certainly a balm when the old bod begins to creak and complain; when one can’t do all the things one used to do; when the memory fails (of course except for all the wonderful things one’s grandchildren have done!).

Amber’s in heaven with Jesus now…gone way too soon. I will miss all the things I had hoped to do with her – listen to her tell of her first love; tell me what college she’s going to and why she chose the major she did; talk about her faith and how she’s growing in it; complain about her brother’s latest annoying trick; talk about her first job; see her get married, even have kids. It would have been fun to tell these exploits to my friends and to show them the latest pictures of my beautiful granddaughter. It is sad to think this will never happen. But we thoroughly enjoyed Amber in the time we had her with us on earth. We still celebrate her memory. And we look forward to meeting her in heaven one day and seeing what she will be like then. Bragging Rights. Every grandparent is entitled to them, and I’ll still boast of our first granddaughter. We love you, Amber!