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Grandmother in Scripture

August 10, 2010 by Sybil Macbeth 1 Comment Leave a Comment

Okay, so after 24 hours in 11 day-old Clara’s presence, I admit to a little bit of cheek-munching and a tad bit of besmittenness. Besmittenness is not even a real word, I’m sure, but neither do the silly lyrics and tunes I’ve been singing to Clara qualify as real songs. I’m enjoying the somewhat surrealistic kingdom of grandparenthood I find myself in.

In Scripture, there is a small amount of advice for parents about rearing children. But instructions for grandparents are non-existent. I wish there were some practical tips like: “Only speak to your grown children when spoken to.” or “Do the dishes, make the meals, and wash the dirty clothes without being asked.”  or “Honor the unique way the next generation is parenting and loving their child.”

I looked up grandfather and grandmother in the on-line concordance and Bible study tool I use. The word grandfather appears a few times in the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible. Grandmother popped up a similar number of times but also in 2Timothy in the New Testament. Paul writes to Timothy, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2Timothy1:5 NIV) I like this passage because my children’s grandmother is named Lois, and she is a woman of sincere and deep faith. Maybe this is my subtle Biblical instruction. Besides just offering songs, clean diapers, and cheek-munching to Clara, I can be a grandmother of sincere faith.

11-day old Clara in the crook of my knee

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Filed Under: Praying in Color Tagged With: 2Timothy 1:5, grandmother, grandparenting

Grandmother

August 8, 2010 by Sybil Macbeth 2 Comments Leave a Comment

Ten days ago I became a grandmother. Today I will meet my first grandchild, Clara Mae.

For several years friends have been saying, “I bet you can’t wait to be a grandmother.” I have to admit a recurrent cringe at this comment. I have loved the carefree adult relationship I have had with my son and daughter-in-law.

As a woman in my early twenties, I often heard the question. “When are you going to have a baby?” Call it weird, but I was not one of those teen-aged girls who loved babysitting and couldn’t wait to be a mother. Holding a fully-inflated basketball was far more interesting to me than holding a ten-pound person in a onesie. My slow journey into motherhood was the result of an evolving relationship with my husband and our longing to expand the circle of our love to include children.

I may be by nature “baby-gushing challenged.” I don’t see a baby and instantly go into what my friend Sharon calls “cheek-munching” mode. I watch grandparents who spend every second of their vacation visiting their grandchildren and the rest of the time hauling out their brief-case sized photo wallets full of baby pictures. I see this besotted behavior, and I get scared. Will I too become a bonafide member of the grandparent cult?

Only twelve hours and thirteen minutes until I hop a plane to meet my granddaughter. Against my will, I have to admit a growing excitement. When I look at the pictures of my son holding newborn Clara, I see a young man hopelessly in love. And I remember how crazy in love I was with the tiny baby who has just become a father.

“Then our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy. The LORD has done great things for us and we are glad indeed.”
Psalm 126:2-3

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Filed Under: Praying in Color Tagged With: grandmother, grandparenting, Psalm 126

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