More Love . . .

I was holding my granddaughter Avery today, after giving her a bath and settling into the couch. As she lay there, snuggled in her little pink blanket, sleeping so peacefully, I thought of my own Grandmother.

We called her "Granny." For almost 10 years of my life, she lived 7 houses down the block. I spent a lot of time at her house, both playing in her yard, eating her food and helping her with chores. When I think of the concept of "unconditional love," her face comes into my mind. I can close my eyes and smell her talcum-powdered body or the Jergens lotion that she used several times a day on her hands.

Sometimes, my memory reminds me of the Juicy Fruit that she always had in her purse!

I don't recall ever hearing my Granny raise her voice or speak in any manner other than loving. She always wore an apron (except for church!) and always had a pie or fried chicken or biscuits ready at a moment's notice. (Biscuits and her gravy . . . mmmmmmm . . .)

As I sat there in my daughter's apartment, alone with Avery, the love I felt swept over me and I was taken back in time. I was sitting at my Granny's knee in her livingroom, and then outside on her back porch. Eating watermelon was one of her favorite activities and her back porch hosted many of these summertime treats.

At her knee, I would just drink in her love, her way of just "being." And this allowed me to just "be," also. I always felt like I was "off duty" at Granny's house, free to just "be" ME! Isn't that a wonderful gift to give to a child?

So, as I thought of my Granny, I thought of Avery and how very much I want to "be" that kind of unconditional love for her. How much I want to give her the gift of just "being" her.

Those are big shoes to fill, and I'm willing to go for it!