Grandma-saurus

Grandma-saurus

Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is gained by living a godly life.

Proverbs 16:31

They say parents are the first educators, and I agree. But as a grandmother of five, I like to think grandparents can get a few lessons in, too, before the children’s formal schooling begins. When I watch our grandson, Sam, and his little sister, I make sure we talk about colors, numbers, nature, and music.

Sam is a quick study with a great attention span, and he also has the ability to retain all the details of his favorite subjects. When he loved trains, he knew about coal tenders, the difference between diesel and steam engines, and the names and functions of all his plastic train cars. Next came pirates, then airplanes, and most recently dinosaurs. He knew about books, movies, and computer games with dinosaur themes. This included knowing the various dinosaurs’ names and weights, whether they were herbivores or carnivores, and in what time periods—Jurassic, Triassic, or Cretaceous—they had lived. Smart boy!

One day on our way to the library, I was lamenting that he would soon be in kindergarten and how much I would miss him. But I also told him he would be learning more things than he could ever imagine.

“Oh, Sam,” I said, “you’re going to learn so much in kindergarten. You’ll know more than Grandma ever knew, from day one!”

There was a thoughtful pause from the backseat of the car, and then he responded, “Grandma, I think it will be day ten. You’re pretty smart.”

I’m sure going to miss him.

—Susan Sundwall

Father, help me to remember that old age is a gift and to humbly see the blessing and wonder of young lives around me. Help me to welcome gray hair as it comes my way and to see it as a blessing from you. In Jesus’ sweet name, amen.