Grandchildren Do Grow Up

I remember like it was yesterday, the four a.m. phone call that I had been waiting for. My first grandchild was being born. It didn't take me long to make that trip 100 mile trip...in fact I was waiting with open arms when she was born into this world.

Unless you're a grandparent, it's probably difficult for you to understand the joy I felt when I held our tiny Katy Rose in my arms that first time. Other grandparents had tried to explain the feeling to me, but there just aren't words in the English language that describes it.

There was this instant unconditional love that flooded my heart when I first looked at her. And I had tears of pure joy. I had felt that when I held my own children for the first time, but there is something unique about the love a grandparent has for a grandchild. I have eight of them now and I felt it with all of them.

Yesterday I attended the wedding of that first grandchild, my Kate Rose. She has grown up to be a beautiful, intelligent, and passionate young lady. But she's also a person who appreciates the simple things in life. When she was much younger she told me she wanted to get married outside in a garden. Her wish came true yesterday as she made her way down a grassy path on her daddy's arm.

The feelings I had as I watched her marry her beloved were similar to the ones I had the first day I  held her in my arms. Gratitude, happiness, and a love that is unexplainable.  And yes, there were tears of joy again. My granddaughter had grown up and found her love.

My happiness was multiplied when I saw her sister and her brother at her side, supporting her and loving her. The ceremony was perfected when my fourth grandchild, nine year old Carly read I Corinthians, chapter 13. Her voice was strong, yet so sweet and innocent as she read about a love that she too can experience some day. And I knew in that instant, that in addition to loving my grandchildren, my most important job as a grandparent is to continue to pray that all nine of them will someday find the love of another. A love that God provides.

My prayers for Kate Rose have now changed. I pray that she and her Brad will have a lasting love...that through the years, their love for each other will so deepen and grow, that years from now when they look back on their wedding day they'll recognize that it is the day they loved each other the least.