Tradition

How traditions start, itsn't it after doing it several times it becomes a thing… a tradition. One that I am particularly fond of is saying bye to my Grandchildren. For my grandson it’s a squish and a kiss on the head. At his age that’s just about the longest he will sit still. He is on the go and wants to be independent. I love that about him though. Not to veer off too far but this weekend I played some music on the TV to entertain him or try to.. his “dance” is to lift his leg then put it down and bop up and down. It’s really cute, he is one and almost walking. He can stand but mostly he just steady’s himself on the couch or ottoman.

In the Bible it speaks of tradition - Mark 7 AMP Followers of Tradition -Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him, and they had seen that some of His disciples ate their bread with [ceremonially] impure hands, that is, unwashed [and defiled according to Jewish religious ritual]. (For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, holding firmly to the traditions of the elders.

Traditions are good, not meant to be omitted or forgotten… When I leave my granddaughters tradition is to walk me to the door and watch me go get in the car. I always have to turn around before I get to the car to give her a sign for I love you. In sign language this is the sign.

If I am close to her when I do this she will put her hand on my fingers that are bent down – like accepting the I love you. that’s her normal tradition. So yesterday when I was leaving she was busy so I went ahead and headed to the car, I heard a knock and there she was but she was crying, I could tell she was crying hard. Her hand was in the I love you sign so I did it back and blew some kisses and kept walking to the car. Once I got there I opened the door to put my cart in and turned around. She was still there and still had that hand up and still crying really hard.

My knees were screaming – get in the car – sit down – but all I could see was that face, how upset that little love was and I left the doors open, left everything there and walked back up the sidewalk. She came out when I was almost there so we had to hug, Lord but I love this little girl. She was hiccupping and I felt so bad for her. I gave her a big squeeze and told her how much I loved her and asked her to not cry. That was enough, she was better after that but how much it was hard for me. I just could not leave without hugging her and talking to her one more time.

In all the time I thought about being a granny, not exactly this but how it felt -yes, this is what I wanted – dreamed about, for her to be upset I was leaving (not that but then again, being loved like that)… oh gosh… for her to want another hug… for her to understand that sign… know it means love… she’s doing it to me…. That’s all a granny can ask for! Maybe the only thing better is to hear her say, “ya-ve (love) you Nonnie”

I love the tradition of her walking me to the door, I love that she always wants to help me with things, she loves to sit by me on the couch and watch bluey. She likes to sit beside me for dinner, she moves her chair closer. I knew I wanted to be a Mom, I love being a Mom, even now to my adult daughter, I also love being a grandma, I think this is what I was born to do.

Let’s Pray

Jesus, gosh am I thankful. Thankful that I was chosen to be a Mom to my daughter and my bonus son. Thankful that I get to be a Nonnie to my two littles. Just beyond thankful for them. AMEN