Being Grandma

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:15

God opened my heart to a new love when I became a grandma. I now look at babies and young children with greater love. I know how much joy they add to my life. I smile when I see Christian and Theone carry their twin sons while collecting the offering as ushers on Sunday morning. I smile when watching Sadie run to and from the children’s front bench during the Children’s Word. I smile when I hear Mace’s answers to Pastor’s questions. Sunday worship is so much more than just music and sermons because of our church’s children.

I’ve watched my grandson, Mikael, grow up from the day he was born in August, 2013. I gingerly carried him as a newborn. I heard his coos and cries after a feeding. I witnessed him turn over, crawl, and take his first steps. As a toddler, I took him to the Hiilani preschool program. These days, we go to the library, Mokupapapa, Café 100, the park, even visit my parents’ graves. I take him anywhere that I think will broaden his world.

On Wednesday afternoons, I pick him up from E Makaala Preschool. As we passed the YMCA building at the corner of Lanikaula and Kapiolani Street this Wednesday, he said: “Remember, Grandma, when I ran all the way here looking for my parents?” I recalled the terror I felt as I chased him from our Building of Faith all the way to the corner traffic light. He was screaming and crying because he thought his parents had abandoned him. We experienced much comfort when his parents returned after my frantic phone call. At that time, he was three.

I now get to spend weekends with my granddaughter Emi, who is four years old. I don’t want to generalize, but my experiences show how different boys are from girls. She’s more settled. She sits and eats, makes up her own songs and stories, reads books, and does puzzles.

I find such joy being a grandma. For me, spending time with my grandchildren is a blessing from God. I experience unconditional love.  I get to see the world through their fresh eyes. I experience the great joy God felt when we were born.

Gloria Kobayashi